IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


1 


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rv 


6^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  f\/licroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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□ 


D 


D 


□ 


D 


0 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endnmmag6e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  materia!/ 
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mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
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Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


Various  pagingi. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
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sont  indiquto  ci-dessous. 

□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

|~~|    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 


Pagas  restaurdes  et/ou  peliicuides 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tacheties  ou  piqu6es 


The< 
toth 


Y 

The! 
possi 
of  th 
filmii 


Origi 

begii 

theli 

sion, 

othei 

first 

sion, 

or  ill( 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

HShowthrough/ 
Transoarence 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppiimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


Thai 
shall 
TINU 
whic 

IMapi 
diffei 
entiri 
begii 
right 
requi 
meth 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'e.vata,  une  pelure, 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimd  au  tpux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


• 

I 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thenke 
to  the  generosity  of: 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnirotitA  de: 


Scott  Library, 
Yoric  University 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Scott  Library, 
YorIc  University 

Las  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  granc^  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  rexempiaire  film6,  at  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustreted  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  in;primAe  sont  fllm6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iiiustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  sulvants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  —►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 


IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'Images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  sulvants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE 


COMMERCE 


[ 


1 


OF 

AMERICA  WITH   EUROPE> 

fARTlCULARLV    WITH 

FRANCE  AND  GREAT-ERITAIN; 
COMPARATIVELY    STATED   AND    EXPLAINED, 

SHEWING 

f^HL  IMPORTANCE  OF  "HE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTIOIfli 
TO  THE  INIKRESTS   OF   FRANCE, 

AND  POINTING  OUT  THE  ACTUAL  SITUATION 

OF    THK 

UNITED  STATES  OF  NOR.TH-AMERICA5 

IN    REGARD   TO  » 

Trnde^  Manufac^iuns  and  Population, 


^j;  J.  P.  BRISSOT   PL  Warvillk, 


AN  n 


ETIENNE    CLAVIERE. 


Tranflated  from  the  laft  French  Edition, 

P.cvifed  by  Brissot,  an<l  called  the  second  Volume  of  his 

View  of  Ameiica. 

With  the  Life  of  Brissot,  and  an  Appendix, 

By  the  TrarJLilor, 


NEir-YORK: 
■Pilutcd  and  fold  by  T.  and  J.  SWORDS,  No.  99  Pearl.ftrcet. 

— I79S--- 


^ 


J 


'    I'.ri 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE 


OF' 


J.  P.   B  R  I  S  S  O  T. 

By  the  Editor, 


H 


£  was  born  nt  the  village  of  Ouarville,  near 
Chatres,  in  Oreannois,  on  the  14th  of  January, 
1754.  His  father  was  what  the  Frencn  called  a 
Traiteur ;  that  is,  keeper  of  an  eating  houfe  or  an  or- 
dinary. He  was  intended  for  the  profertion  of  the 
lavyj,  and  was  articled  to  an  attorney  for  that  pur- 
pofe.  But  he  grew  difgiifted  with  the  chicane  and 
turpitude  he  was  daily  obliged  to  witnefs,  and  there- 
fore, after  the  five  years  of  the  articlefhip  were  ex- 
pired, he  left  Chatres  and  went  to  Paris. 

An  accident  one  night  at  the  theatre  at  Paris  plac- 
ed him  in  the  company  of  an  Englifti  gentleman. 
They  became  intimate,  and  from  this  gentleman  he 
obtained  fome  knowledge  of  the  Englifh  language; 
which  he  afterwards  improved  by  a  relldence  in 
London. 

He  had  received  a  regular  claflical  education,  and 
acquired,  by  ftrift  application, a  tolerable  knowledge 
of  the  German,  Italian,  and  Spanifli  languages,  fuf- 
ftcient  to  confult  the  authors  who  have  written  in 
thofe  languages.     On  his  arrival  at  Paris,  his  firft 

a  z  ftudy 


<. . 


{^  SKETCtf  OP  THE  LlPf 

iludy  was  jurifprudencc,  with  an  intention  of  6e# 
coming  .in  ad\'ocate  in  parliament.  No  fcience 
however  efcancd  his  attention.  He  attended  lec- 
tures and  experiments  in  every  branch  of  rcier>cej 
wherein  his  active  genius  found  ample  exercifc. 
Chymiftry  was  his  favourite  objeft  of  piirfuit;  but 
his  circumftances  were  too  limited  to  indulge  much 
in  it.  The  fmall  patrimony  which  he  inherited  froai 
his  father  did  not  exceed  forty  pounds  per  annum. 

In  the  year  1 777  he  made  his  firft  tour  to  London. 
During  his  ffay  in  London  he  became  engaged  in 
the  condu(^  of  a  French  nevvfpaper,  at  that  time 
called  the  Courier  dc  V Europe^  but  fince  the  Courier  de 
Londres.  Some  mifunderftanding  having  happened 
concf  rning  the  (lamps  (at  the  (lamp-office  in  Lon- 
don) for  this  paper,  the  proprietor  took  a  refolutioa 
cf  prir.ring  it  at  Boulogne  fur-mer;  and  BrifTot  wa» 
appointed  the  Editor,  and  refided  at  Boulogne  for 
that  purpofr.  He  continued  in  this  capacity  at  Bou- 
logne about  two  years.  From  thence  he  went  to 
Paris,  and  was  admitted  Counfellor  in  Parliament. — 
i^"iarly  in  the  year  1782  he  went  to  Neufchatel  to  fu- 
perjnte/id  the  printing  of  one  of  his  books  (mentioned 
hereafter).  This  was  ihe  memorable  period  of  the 
revolution  at  Geneva.  Here  he  became  acquainted 
witli  M.  Claviere  and  M.  du  Rovray,  who,  with  a 
numcror.s  pxrty,  were  expelled  that  city,  and  fough^ 
.>n  nfylum  in  Ireland. 

In  the  sutumn  of  this  year,  he  married  a  daughter 
of  Madame  Dupont  of  Boulogne.  This  young  lady 
had  been  recommended  to  the  celebrated  Madama 
de  Genlls,  wiio  obtained  a  fituation  for  her  in  the 
n\irfery  of  tlie  Duke  de  Chartres,  late  Duke  of  Or- 
icaiis,  who  fufFered  under  the  guillotine;  in  which 
iitnation  (lie  continue<i  fome  time  after  her  marriage. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1783,  he  vjfired 
London  a  fecond  time.  His  view  in  thisjo.,rney 
n-as  to  eftabliih  in  London,  a  Lyceum,  or  Academy 

of 


to 


OF  J.  KiRissoT.  y 

of  Arts  and  Sciences,  together  with  an  ofiice  of  gc- , 
neral  correfpondencc.  In  this  undertaking  he  was 
encouraged  by  Tome  of  the  tirft  literary  men  ii\ 
France;  and  a  Monfieur  dii  Forge,  mufician  at  Pa- 
ris, wa.'i  lb  captivated  with  the  fchenie,  that  he  ad- 
vanced four  thoufand  livres,  (i66l.)  for  one  third 
lliare  of  the  profits.  Briilbt  was  to  have  the  fole  ma- 
nagement, and  the  other  two  thirds  of  the  profits. 
He  took  a  houfe  in  Newman-flreet,  Oxford-flreet ; 
and  publiflicd  a  profped^us  of  his  undertaking.  He 
fcnt  for  liis  wife  and  his  youngeft  brother  (hiseldeft 
brother  was  a  pricft.)  At  this  time  he  commenced 
bis  defcription  of  the  fciences  in  England  (mentioned 
Ivereafter)  to  be  publiflied  monthly.  Having  in  one 
of  his  publications  taken  occafion  to  vindicate  the 
Chevalier  Launay,  editor  of  the  Courier  du  Kon.\ 
printed  at  Maeftricht,  the  editor  of  the  Coiiricr  ihc 
VEurope^  now  M*  du  Morande,  was  fo  highly  of- 
fended by  it,  that  he  became  from  that  time  Briflbt's 
moft  determined  enemv.  It  is  to  be  obferved,  that 
the  Courier  du  Nord,  and  the  Courier  del' Europe, 
w^ere  rival  newfpapers.  De  Launay  quitted  Maef- 
tricht, and  went  to  Paris,  where  he  was  immediately; 
put  into  the  Baflrlc,  and  was  never  more  heard  of. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1784,  Briflbt  was  arrefted 
by  his  printer  in  London.  .  Although  he  was  at  this 
time  very  well  knowa  to  feveral  perfons  of  rank  and 
fortune,  yet  he  was  too  delicate  to  apply  to  any  of 
them  for  pecuniary  aiTiflance.  But  after  remaining 
a  day  or  two  in  a  lock-up  iioufe  in  Grry's  Inn  Lane, 
he  fent  his  brother  to  an  intimate  friend,  who  in- 
jlantly  paid  the  printer  his  bill,  and  liberated  him. 

The  next  morning  Briflbt  fee  out  for  France, 
leaving  his  wife  and  brother  in  Rnpjand,  aiTuring 
them  he  would  quickly  return,  whicn  he  certainly 
intended.  But  in  this  he  was  feverely  difappointed. 
Thus  ended  his  literary  enterprife  of  efhblifhing  a 
Lyceum  in  Londoii,  in  which  he  embarked  his 

a  3  wlioie 


Vi  SKETCH    OF  THK   LIFE 

whole  property  with  a  degree  of  infatuation  and  zenl 
that  fcemed  to  border  upon  infanity.  During  his 
refidencc  in  London  he  became  acquainted  with  one 
Count  de  Pclleport,  author  of  feveral  pampidets 
againd  the  principal  perfons  of  the  French  Court, 
particularly  of  one  called  Soirees  il'Ajitoiuette^  for  the 
apprehenfion  of  the  author  of  which  the  Frencli 
court  oft'ered  a  thoufand  pounds  (looo  Louis)  re- 
ward. BriiFot,  inftead  of  proceeding  diredly  to  Pa- 
ris, (lopped  at  Boulogne,  and  refided  there  with  his 
moihcr-in-law  :  here  he  rcfolved  to  continue  his 
publication  on  the  original  plan.  Du  M know- 
ing that  Pelleport  was  the  author  of  the  offenlive 
pamphlet,  and  that  Briflbt  and  Pelleport  were  inti- 
mate, refolved  to  obtain  the  reward,  and  gratify  his 
refentment.  He  applied  to  Pelleport,  offering  him 
the  fuperintendance  of  a  publication  to  be  carried  on 
at  Bruges,  (near  Oftend,)  the  falary  of  which  was 
to  be  two  hundred  pounds  per  annum.  Pelleport 
accepted  the  otfcr.  But  it  was  necellary  to  flop  at 
Boulogne,  where  fome  final  arrangements  were  to  be 
made.  In  the  month  of  July,  Pelleport  embarked  for 
{Boulogne  with  Captain  Meredith.  But  the  moment 
he  landed,  he  was  feized  by  the  officers  of  the  Police, 
who  put  him  in  chains  and  carried  him  to  Paris, 

where  he  was  fent  to  the  Baftile.  Du  M was  an 

agent  of  the  Police  of  Paris.  Information  being 
given  to  the  Police,  that  BrilTot  was  at  Boulogne, 
and  that  he  was  the  intimate  friend  of  Pelleport,  he 
was  immediately  taken  into  cuflody,  carried  to  Pa- 
ris, and  committed  to  the  Baftile.'  However,  it  is 
certain  that  BriiTot  never  wrote  any  thing  againll:  ei- 
ther the  King  or  Queen  of  France.  He  was  fincere 
in  his  abhorrence  of  the  arbitrary  and  defpotic  prin- 
ciples of  the  French  government,  but  with  refpeft 
to  the  private  condud  of  the  King  and  Queen,  he  ne- 
ver beftowed  the  fmallefl  attention  upon  it.  In  this 
magazine  of  human  viaims,  he  continued  about  fix 

weeks, 


OF  J.  P.  BRISIOT.  Vli 

wcfks.  His  wife  applied  to  Madame  Genlis  in  his 
f:ivoiir,  and  Madame  Genlis  mort  generoiifly  made 
a  point  of  it  with  the  Duke  de  Chartres  to  obtain  his 
liberty.  The  Duke  de  Chartres's  interference  does 
not  appear  by  any  document;  but  lirilfot's  acquittal 
ot  the  charge  brought  againft  him  appears  in  the 
following  report  of  his  examination,  made  to  the 
French  minifter,  M.  Breteuil,  on  the  5th  of  September. 

'*  The  Sieur  iiriirot  de  Warville  was  conveyed  to- 
**  the  Biillile  on  the  day  after  the  Sieu  rde  Pelleport, 
*'  who  was  arrelled  at  Boulogne  fur-mer,  arrived  nc 
"  Paris,  ill  confequence  of  his  conned^ions  with 
*'  this  man,  guilty  of  writing  libels,  he  was  (ufpedfcd 
*'  of  having  been  his  coadjutor.  Theatteftation  of 
"  a  boy  in  the  printing-office,  from  whence  one  of 
**  thefe  libels  illued,  gave  ftrength  to  fufnicions;  hut 
**  this  atteftation,  tranfmitted  from  London,  is  def- 
"  titiite  of  authenticity;  and  the  Sieur  Briflbt  de 
"  Warville,  who  has  very  fatisfacf^orily  anfwered  to 
"  the  interrogatories  which  were  put  to  him,  attri- 
"  butes  his  crimination  to  the  animofity  of  enemies 
"  whom  he  conceives  to  have  plotted  againft  him  in 
"  London.  The  Sieur  Brhfot  de  Warville  is  a  man 
"  of  talents,  and  of  letters;  he  appears  to  have  form- 
"  ed  fyflems,  and  to  entertain  extraordinary  princi- 
'*  pies;  but  it  is  certain  that,  for.  the  laft  feven  or 
"  eight  months,  his  connections  with  the  Sieur  de 
*'  Pelleport  had  ceafed,  and  that  he  employed  him- 
"  felf  folely  upon  a  periodical  paper,  which  he  ob- 
"  tained  permiflion  to  circulate  and  fell  in  France, 
**  after  having  fubmitted  it  to  the  examiuatioa  of  a 
"  licenier." 

It  is  proper  to  obferve,  that  the  addition  of  ^e 
Warville^  which  Briflbt  made  to  his  name,  (to  dif- 
tinguifli  himfelf  from  his  elder  brother)  is  a  kind  of 
local  defignation,  not  uncommon  in  many  countries. 
William  of  Malmfbury,  Geoffry  of  Monmouth,  Ra- 
pin  de  Thoyras,  Joaa  d'Arc,  &c,  &c.     J3ut  in  the 

ortho* 


tnii 


6K1:TCH    of  THl  UVh 


ortlio[;raplw  lie  fubftituted  tlie  Enc;li{li  J^  for  the 
French  tlij/thon^  (Ju ;  the  fbund  nt  tiut  clij>thon^ 
being  fimilar  to  our  W.  Thus  Outvville  is  pro- 
nounced Jfarville  in  both  languages. 

\\\  a  very  (liort  tii.ie  after  his  releafc  from  the  Hal- 
tile,  he  very  honourably  difcharged  his  pecuniary 
obl'gation  to  his  friend  in  London. 

In  the  year  1787,  which  was  the  era  of  the  foun- 
dation of  the  French  revolution,  tiie  Duke  de  Char- 
tres,  now  become  Duke  ct  Orleans  by  the  death  of 
his  father,  embraced  the  party  of  the  parliament 
againft  the  Court.  Upon  the  princij.le  of  grntilude 
.Briflbt  attached  himftii  to  the  Duke  of  Orleans.  As 
an  honeft  man  he  could  not  do  othcrwife. 

We  fliall  here  })afs  by  his  tour  to  America,  and 
fome  other  circumftanccs,  becaufcthey  are  intimate- 
ly connerted  with  the  account  of  his  writings,  which 
is  fubjoincd. 

Upon  his  return  to  Fralice  he  found  that  his  cele- 
brity had  not  been  diminiftled  bv  his  abfencc.  He 
was  eleiled  a  member  of  the  Conilitutnt  AHcmbly, 
and  was  much  engaged  in  the  committees  of  refearcb, 
of  which  he  was  the  reporter.'  He  was  alfo  elei^tetl 
ajnember  of  the.Legiflatlve  Airembly  for  the  depart- 
ment of  Paris..  It  muft  be  obferved,  tlial  the  revo- 
lution caft  a  veil. over  the  crimes  of  all  thofe  who 
had  been  obliged  to  leave  their  country.     In  this 

group  who  returned  to  France  was  Du  M .     He 

oppofed  Brilfot  in  his  election  for  Paris,  but  BriObt 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  more  than  tliree  to  one. 
However,  Du  M 's  party  were  excefiively  morti- 
fied; and  they  unceafingly  calumniated  Briffot  in  the 
mod  opprobrious  terms.  M.  Petion,  mayor  of  Paris, 
and  who  was  Briilbt's  friend  and  townfrnan,  contri- 
buted much  to  ftren2then  his  intereft  and  afcen- 
dcncy. 

Briflbt  now  diftinguidied  himfelf  as  one  of  the 
Jmh  ihs  JSoirs  (friend  of  tlic  Negroes)  of  whom  he 

\y;as 


OF  J.  P.  BRI8S0T.  IX 

was  a  mod  zealous  .idvocatc.  In  a  fpccch  which  he 
tlelivcred  in  the  AiTembly  in  the  year  1791,  there  is 
a  ftrong  trait  of  phiiantliropy. 

Of  tills  fpeech  the  foHov\inj;  is  a  fliort  extract: 
**  You  have  heard  of  enormities  that  freeze  yon  with 
horror;  but  Thabris  f^oke  not  of  his  brazen  bull, 
lie  lamented  only  the  dagger  that  his  own  cruelty 
had  raifed  againil  him.  The  colonifts  have  related 
inftanccsof  ferocity;  but  «ive  ine,  faid  he,  an  in- 
fornii-d  brute, and  I  will  foon  make  a  ferocious  mon- 
ger of  him.  It  was  a  white  man  who  Hrd  threw  a 
negro  into  a  buriiing  oven;  who  daflied  out  the 
brains  of  a  child  in  the  prefence  of  its  father;  who 
fed  a  Have  with  its  own  proper  flefii,  Thcfe  are  the 
monlk'rs  that  have  to  account  for  the  barbarity  of 
the  revolted  favages.  Millions  of  Africans  have  pe- 
riflied  on  this  foil  of  blood.  You  break,  at  every  ftcp, 
the  bones  of  the  inhabitants,  that  nature  has  given 
to  thcfc  iflands :  and  you  fliudder  at  the  relation  of 
their  vengeance.  In  this  dreadful  ftruggle  the  crimes 
of  the  whites  are  yet  the  mod  horrible.  They  are 
the  offspring  of  defpoiifm :  whilft  thofe  of  the  blacks 
originate  in  the  hatred  of  (lavery,  and  the  thirfl  of 
revenge.  Is  philofophy  chargeable  with  thefe  hor- 
rors? Does  file  require  the  blood  of  the  colonifts  ? 
Brethren,  flie  cries,  be  juft,  be  beneficent,  and  you 
will  profper. — Eternal  flavcry  mufl  be  an  eternal 
fource  of  crimes; — diveft  it  at  leaft  of  the  epithet 
eternal ;  foranguifa  that  knows  no  limitation  of  pe- 
riod can  only  produce  defpair." 

Upon  the  abolition  of  the  French  monarchy,  in 
the  month  of  September  1792,  the  Legiflative  Af- 
fembly  difTolved  itfelf.  The  conftitution  being  dif- 
folved  by  the  abolition  of  the  King,  they  conceived 
that  it  was  the  inherent  right  of  the  people  to  choofe 
a  new  reprefentation,  in  order  to  frame  a  new  confti' 
tution,  fuited  to  the  wifiies  of  the  people,  and  to  the 
neceflity  of  the  exilling  circumftauces  of  the  times. 


X  SKEtCH  OF*  TH£  llfFE 

In  this  general  elet^ion  BrifTot  was  eleded  one  of  tHtf' 
deputies  from  the  department  of  Eiire  and  Loire. 
His  abilities  ant!  talents  became  every  day  more  con- 
fpiciious.  He  was  chofen  the  Reporter  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Public  Safety;  in  which  fituation  he  con- 
duced himfelf  withoiit  reproach,  until  the  treache- 
rous conduC  of  Diimourier  threw  a  fufpicion  on 
the  whole  of  the  Gironde  party. 

Although  afTailed  on  all  (ides  by  his  enemies,  his 
charaditer  afperf^d  and  depreciated  by  the  bafeft  of 
c:>Jumnies,  BriiTot  fhewed  hlmfelf  confiftent  willi  his 
public  principles  of  philanthropy. 

In  the  dreadful  madacre  of  the  3d  of  September, 

his  opponents, particularly  Dli  M ,  fought  every 

opportunity  to  accomplilli  his  def}ru<5tio!i,  by  ac- 
eufing  him  of  being  a  principal  inftigator  of  thofe 
horrors.  And  it  muft  be  owned,  that  thefe  repeated 
and  continual  calumnies  weakened  him  in  the  pub- 
lic  ef^ciem.     Da  M was  perfe<^ly  acquainted 

with  the  Englifli  method  of  writing  a  man  down. 

When  Condorcet  moved  for  the  abolition  of  roy- 
alty, BrifTot  was  filent. 

When  the  motion  was  made  to  pafs  fentence  of 
death  on  the  King,  Briilbt  fpoke  and  voted  for  the 
appeal  to  the  primary  aflemblies. 

When  Fayette  was  cenfured,  BrifTot  defe.^.ded  him. 
When  the  Duke  of  Orleans  (M.  de  Egalitc)  was 
cenfured.  Brifll^i;  df^fended  him. 

The  two  firil  feera  to  have  arifen  in  principles  of 
humanity. 

The  twolai'r,unqnertionably,arofe  in  theftrongeft 
ties  of  gratitude  and  friendf  dp. 

A  confcientious  man  cannot  fuffer  a  more  fevere 
affliction,  than  when  his  private  honour  places  him 
againlt  his  public  duty. 


Of 


OP  J.  p.  BRIMOT. 


*l 


i 


Of  Briffat^s  Writings :  atid  particularly  of  this  JVork. 

Upon  the  fettlemeat  of  the  American  government 
lifter  the  war,  he  became  an  enthufiaftir  admirer  of 
the  new  conftitution  of  that  great  country.  But 
fome  French  perfons,  who  had  been  in  America,  and 
iverc  returned  to  France,  had  pubHfiied  their  thoughts 
and  opinions  of  America,  in  a  manner  that  was  no- 
thing {hort  of  ilHberaiity.  The  reader  will  find  the 
principal  names  of  thefe  writers  in  the  thirty-fecond 
chapter  of  the  firft  volume.  Brifibt  was  fired  with 
indignation  ^t  this  treatment  of  a  people,  whom  he 
conceived  could  ..ot  in  any  .wife  have  deferved  fuch 
reproach  ;  and,  imagining  that  the  general  peace  ia 
1783,  had  opened  an  honourable  and  free  commu- 
nication of  reciprocal  commercial  advantages  be- 
TvVeen  America  and  Frrmce,  he  wrote //vV  volume  with 
the  view  of  fupportingand  eliablifliing  that  primary 
idea,  or  theory  of  a  French  commerce  with  the  Unit- 
ed States. 

Upon  this  point  it  is  no  more  than  ordinary  can- 
dour to  obferve,  tiat  all  which  Brifibt  recommends, 
explains,  or  relates,  concerning  a  French  commerce 
with  the  IJri^ed  States,  applied  equally,  and  in  fome 
points  more  thm  equally,  to  the  Britifli  commerce 
v/ith  them.  Every  Biitifii  merchant  and  trader  m^iv 
derive  fome  advantage  from  a  general  view  of  the 
principles  which  he  has  laid  down  for  the  eftabRfh- 
znent  and  regulation  of  a  reciprocal  commerce  be- 
tween France  and  America.  The  produce  and  ma- 
nufaftures  of  England  are  infinitely  better  fuited  to 
the  wants  of  America;  and  therefore  all  his  theory, 
which  is  directed  to  the  welfare  and  improvement  of 
France,  mud  ftrongly  attach  the  attention  of  the 
Britifli  merchant  and  mechanic;  who,  in  this  great 
point,  have  not  at  prefent  any  fuperiors,  but  have 
feveral  rivals.  Brifibt's  ambition  was  to  make  France 

the- 


■r-~r3?? 


jtii 


SKETCH  OF  THE  tlVB 


the  greateft  and  moH  powerful  rival.  And  every 
c-ndiu  peifon  iiuift  allow  that  he  dcfervcd  much  cre- 
nit  oi  his  countrymen  for  the  piogrefs  he  made,  in 
this  firtt  atiem))f,  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  French 
nation  lo  profpe^ts  of  new  fources  of  advantage.  Ali 
that  is  furtiier  necefiary  to  iay  of  this  work,  is  faid  by 
BriiTot  iiimfclf  in  the  introdudion,  from  the  tenth 
to  the  twentieth  pait;es.  In  the  laft  French  edition 
of  Briflbt's  Travt.s  «ii  America,  publiflied  by  him- 
ielf,  icbour  feven  or  eight  months  before  his  decapi- 
tation, this  volume  is  placed  the  laft  of  that  work. 
We  have  followed  the  Author's  arrangement,  and 
collated  the  wlioie  by  the  laft  Paris  edition. 

Of  the  precediuii,  volume,  entitled,  "  New  Tra- 
vels in  th<»  Unlied  Statts  of  America,"  we  have  no- 
thing to  add :  the  whole  of  the  French  edition  is  now 
before  the  reader. 

Of  BrifFot's  other  works  it  is  proper  to  mention 
the  following. 

77/6'  The'.ry  of  Crlmival  Laivs^  in  two  volumes — Al- 
though M.  la  Cretelle,  at  the  conclufion  of  his  Effiy 
on  the  Prejudices  attached  to  infamy,  fpeaks  in  flat- 
tering terms  of  this  work;  for  he  fays,  that  it  exhi- 
bits an  extenfible  knowledge,  and  Ihews  the  writer'?, 
ambition  afcends  to  great  principles;  yet  to  thole 
perfons  who  have  read  Becaria's  Eflay  on  Crimes  and 
Panilhments,  it  will  not  ap;)car  that  BrilTot  has  added 
much  novelty  to  the  fubjecl. 

The  NecfJJtty  vf  a  Reform  of  the  Qlminal  Lavjs. 

Ulirt  Reparation  is  due  to  innocevt  Ferjons  uhjufly 
accvfed, 

Thefe  v.'ere  two  difcourfes  which  were  crowned 
by  the  Academy  of  Chalons  fur  Marne,  and  were 
pr.iied  in  the  forng,  of  two  pamphlets.  The  minif- 
ters  of  Louis  XV 1'.  were  a  good  deal  offended  at  the 
principles  they  contained,  and  they  forbid  the  Aca- 
demy propofing  the  difc uffing  of  (imilar  fubje£ls  aE 
any  of  their  future  meetings. 

Thi« 


OF  J.  P.  BRiwor. 


every 

B 

ch  cre- 

^B 

ide,  in 

9 

French 

H 

^e.  All 
faid  by 
e  tenth 

1 

edition 

',  ,\ 

)y  hinfi- 

decapi- 
t  work. 

1 

lit,  and 

i 

w  Tra- 

i 

ave  no- 

^ 

is  now 

fl 

nention 

1 

es     Al- 

is  Effay 

;  in  flat- 

it  exlii- 

writer'f 

:o  thole 

1 

mes  and 

IS  added 

nus. 

■.''  ' 

in.jiijlly 

:rowned 

nd  were 

'■■'% 

e  iTiinif- 

:d  at  the 

i 

he  Aca- 
bje<^s  ai: 

rw^i    • 

"ft 

This  check  ferved  but  as  a  ftimnlus  to  Briflbt  to 
continue  his  fubje<^.     He  therefore,  in  two  years 
afterwards,  publifties  \\\s  Phihfophical  Library  of  the 
Crimiftal  Lazus.    This  work  is  now  ten  volumes.    Bril- 
fot's  view  in  tnis  work  was,  to  difFufc  and  explain 
thofe  grand  principles  of  freedom  which  produced 
the  revoUition  in  England  in  the  year  i688,  and  the 
revolution  in  America  in  the  year  1775.    Before  the 
dilTolution  of  the  monarchy  in  France,  thofe  princi- 
ples were  almoft  unknown  to  the  French,  and  are 
ftill  almoft  unknown  to  the  other  parts  of  Europe. 
But  as  feveral  of  the  monarch*  of  Europe  approved 
of  the  American  revolution,  it  may  be  prefumed 
that  their  fubje<fts  will  not  long  continue  ignorant  of 
the  motives  and  grounds  of  a  meafure  which  was 
honoured  with  the  patronage  of  their  fovereigns. 
This  circumllance  alone  fliould  convince  the  Eng- 
liflijthnt  marfy  of  the  powers  of  Europe  behold  with 
pleahire  the  diminution  of  iheic  greatnefs  and  con- 
fequence,  and  that  very  few  of  thofe  powers  are  ever 
friendly  to  them,  except  during  the  tim'*  they  are 
receiving  a  bribe,  by  virtue  of  an  inflrument,  com- 
monly called  ajuhjidiary  treaty. 

Of  Dr.  Price  of  London  he  was  an  admirer;  but 
of  Dr.  Prieftley  he  was  alfo  an  imitator,  for  he  anuifed 
himfelf  frequently  with  chymiftry,  phyfics,  anato- 
my, and  religion.  On  the  lall  fuL)je6t  there  is  a  pre- 
lum ption  that  he  wrote  but  little;  for  in  his  Letter  to 
the Arnib'ijhop ofSens[{the  only  tradlon  religion, by  him, 
tbiu  has  come  to  the  Editor's  knowledge)  he  fays, 
'*  That  religious  tyranny  had  been  proftrated  by  the 
^'  blows  of  Voltaire,  RoufTeau,  D'Alembert,  and 
*'  D'Iderot."  His  mind  was  capacious,  and  his  com- 
prehendon  extenfive.  In  his  zeal  to  become  an  imi- 
tator of  Prieftley,  he  publiftied  aj^olume  Cnmertiing 
Truthy  or  Thoughts  on  the  Means  of  attaining  Truth,  in 
nil  the  branches  of  Human  Knoidedge.  Here  was  a  wide 
£dd  for  the  difplJiy  of  BrilTot's  talents  and  induftrv. 
•  b  His 


Thi« 


'ii^^ 


!        I 


XIV 


SKETCH  or  THE  LIFE 


i 


■t 


His  defign  was  to  have  carried  on  the  work  to  feve- 
ral  volumes,  and  to  have  invited  the  communica- 
tions of  the  literati  of  all  Europe,  in  all  the  different 
/ciencesy  and,  it  may  be  added^ /peculations.  But  there 
was  fuch  a  freedom  of  fentiment  manifefted  in  the 
firft  volume,  that  both  the  author  and  printer  were 
alarmed  with  the  terrors  of  the  Baftile.  Filled  with 
thefe  apprehenfions,  he  left  Paris,  and  went  to  Neuf- 
chatel.  There  he  printed  his  profpe6tus,  and  he 
caufed  it  to  be  alfo  printed  in  London.  But  when 
thefe  copies  were  attempted  to  be  circulated  in 
France,  they  were  ftized.  Not  a  (ingle  number 
Avas  permitted  to  be  feen  in  any  bookfeller's  lliop  in 
France. 

Finding  the  execution  of  his  proje(5l  thus  rendered 
jmprafticable,  he  left  Neufchatel,  and  went  to  Lon- 
don; where,  in  order  to  give  currency  to  his  free 
opinions,  he  altered  the  title  of  his  bdfckl  He  pro- 
pofed  to  publifh  the  remaining  part  periodically,  un- 
der the  name  of -^  Defcriptkn  of  the  Sciences  and  Arts 
in  England;  great  part  of  which  was  intended  to  be 
devoted  to  an  examination  of,  and  to  obfervations 
on,  the  Englifli  conflitution.  His  friends  folicitcd 
the  French  miniflry  to  permit  this  work  to  be  re- 
printed at  Paris.  At  iiril  they  obtained  this  favour ; 
and  the  work  went  on  as  far  as  twelve  numbers,  or 
two  volumes;  after  which  it  was  prohibited,  not 
more  to  the  author's  mortification  than  to  the  injury 
of  his  pocket.  M.  de  Vergennes,  who  was  at  that 
time  miniH:er  of  France,  had  fo  ftrong  a  diflike  to 
every  thing  that  was  Englifh,  that  he  would  not  en- 
ciure  the  fmalleft  commendation  upon  any  part  of 
the  Englifli  conftltntion,  or  commerce,  to  be  pro- 
mulgated in  France.  He  had  begun  to  difcover, 
that  the  fovourit«  idea  of  his  mafter,  of  feparating 
the  Britlfli  colonies  from  the  Britifli  empire,  might 
lead  to  an  inve^igationof  the  principles  of  govern- 

jTient 


to  feve- 
munica- 
different 
Jut  there 
?d  in  the 
tcr  were 
led  with 
:o  Neuf- 

and  he 
iut  wlien 
lated   ia 

number 
>  fliop  in 

rendered 
:  to  Lon- 
»  his  free 

He  pro- 
lally,  un- 

and  Arts 
ded  to  be 
srvations 

folicitcd 
:o  be  re- 
3  favour ; 
ibers,  or 
ited,  not 
tie  injury 
IS  at  that 
diflil<.e  to 
1  not  ei> 
^  part  of 

be  pro- 
difcover, 
eparating 
e,  might 

govern  • 
iTient 


or  J.  p.  BRISSOT.  AV 

nient  at  home,  and  prove  extremely  dangerous  to  a 
defpotic  monarchy. 

Notwithftanding  he  was  thus  difappointed  a  fe- 
cond  time,  lie  ftiil  purfued  his  defign  ;  but  under  a 
fecond  change  of  title.  He  publilhed  two  volumes 
under  the  title  of  Philofophlcal  Lett  en  on  the  Hijicry  cf 
England.  The  title  did  not  attrad  the  public  atten- 
tion; becaufe  two  volumes  under  a  fimilar  name  had 
been  publifhed  in  London,  and  had,  with  fome  ^7, 
been  impofed  on  the  public  as  the  production  of 
Lord  Lyttleton;  but  they  were  written  by  Gold- 
fmith,  in  fupport  of  tyranny  and  arii\ocracy. 

Every  circumftance  of  cruelty  and  oppreffion  met 
with  the  obiervation  of  Briflbt.  When  the  late  Em- 
peror Jofeph  was  puniHiingHoriah,  the  leader  of  the 
revolt  in  Walachia,  and  ifTuing  his  lliocking  edi(fl 
againlt  emigration,  Briflbt  addrefTed  tivo  letters  to  him 
npon  thofe  uibje6ls,  which  were  read  throughout 
Germany.  In  one  letter  he  affirmed,  that  Horiali 
was  juftified  in  his  revolt;  in  the  other  he  held^  that 
a  privilege  to  emigrate  from  one  country  to  another, 
was  a  iricred  right  derived  from  nature. 

He  was  an  enthufiail  in  his  admiration  of  the 
American  revolution,  and  of  the  conduct  of  the 
Americans  in  rifliing  every  thing  to  emancipate 
themfelves  from  tf^e  tyranny  of  Great-Britain.  Upon 
comparing  the  new  conftitution  of  America  with 
that  of  England,  he  changed  his  opinion  of  the  lat- 
ter— he  ctafed  to  approve  of  it. 

Some  French  gentlemen,  who  had  vifited  America, 
having,  when  they  returned  to  France,  written  fome 
fevere  remarks  on  the  Americans,  BriiTot  defended 
the  Americans,  particularly  in  his  book  called  A  Cri- 
tical Examination  of  the  Travels  of  the  Marquis  of  Cha' 
ielleux.  But  as  this  work  has  been  already  mentioned 
in  the  preceding  volume  (fee  chapters  31  and  32),  it 
is  not  neceffary  to  fav  any  thing  more  otit  here. 

It  mufl  never  be  forgot,  that  during  the  period  of 

b  2  the 


«vi 


SKEtCH  OF  THE  LIVE 


the  French  monarchy  there  were  more  intrigues  al- 
ways going  on  in  the  French  court  than  in  any  court 
in  Europe.     At  this  time  (the  year  1787)  the  court 
was  full  of  intrigues — libidinous  as  well  as  political  ? 
for  though  the  King  had  no  miftrefles,  the  Quceft 
had  her  favourites  and  her  party.     Neckar  was  dif- 
miiTed,  and  Calonne  was  appointed  by  her  influence. 
Montmorin  fucceeded  Vergennes,  and  the  Duke  of 
Orieans  was  at  the  head  of  the  party  that  fought  the 
overthrow   of  the  new  miniftry.     When  Calonne 
afTembled  the  Notables  at  Verfailles,  Briflot  publilh- 
ffd  a  pamphlet  entitled  No  Biutkruptcy  ;  or  Letters  to  a 
Creditor  of  the  State  concerning  the  Inipojfib'tlity  of  a  Na^ 
tional  BauJcriiptcy^  and  the  Means  of  reforhig  Credit  and 
Peace,     This  pamphlet,  which  contained  many  fe* 
vere  obfervations  on  Calonne's  meafures  and  plans, 
md  feme  arguments  in  fupport  of  certain  privileges 
t:ia;med  by  the  people,  the  Duke  of  Orleans  was 
highly  pleafed   with.     Pie  made  inquiry  after   the 
author,  for  the  tra6l  was  anonymous,  and  having 
diicovered  him,  he  ordered  his  chancellor  to  provide 
.1  firuation  for  him.     He  was  made  fecretarv-gencral 
of  tlic  Duke's  chancery.     This  did  not  fave  him 
from  minifterinl  refentment.     A  letter  de  cachet  was 
iiKide  out  againll  him;  but  havin^r  notice  of  it,  he 
■nflajrly  elcaped  to  the  Netherlands.     He  was  for 
icvcral  months  editor  of  the  Courier Belgique^  printed 
nt  rvlechlin.     It  was  during  this  voluntary  exile  that 
he.  rormed  his  projedl  of  vifiting  America.     He  com- 
juunicated  his  defign  to  the  Philanthropic  Society  of 
tiie  Friends  of  the  Negroes  at   Paris,  and  was  by 
tlicm  afiTillec!  and  recommended  to  feveral  perfons  in 
America.     The  produce  of  this  vifit  to  America 
was  the  lirfi:  volame  of  this  work,  written  upon  his 
return  to  France.      The    French    miniftry    being 
changed  before  he  left  Europe,  he  embarked  at  Havre 
de  Grace  in  the  month  of  June,   1788. 
liiteliigence   having  reached  him  in  America  of 

the 


s» 


■(» 


;^, 


I 


OF  J.  P.  BRISSOT. 


XVll 


giies  al- 
ly court 
le  court 
olitical ; 
?  Qucea 
was  dif- 
fluence. 
Duke  of 
ught  the 
Calonne 
publifh- 
-tters  to  a 
of  a  Nu' 
'redit  and 
nany  fe* 
id  plans, 
rivileges 
?ans  was 
fter  the 
having 
'  provide 
'■-general 
ave  him 
chet  was 
3f  it,  he 
:  was  for 
,  printed 
rxile  that 
tie  com- 
Dcietv  of 
i  was  by 
^rfons  in 
America 
-ipon  his 
y  being 
at  Havre 

lerica  of 
the 


t!ic  rapid  proijrcfs  liberty  was  making  in  France,  he 
returned  to  his  native  country  in  1789,  in  a  confi- 
dence that  his  labours  might  become  ufeful  to  the 
general  intereft. 

Plis  firfl  publication  after  his  return  (except  the 
preceding  volume  of  his  travels  in  America)  was,  ^ 
Finn  of  Condudlfor  the  Deputies  of  the  People, 

His  knowledge  and  admiration  of  America  natii* 
rally  produced  a  friend^ip  with  the  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette,  who  introduced  him  into  the  club  of  the 
Jacobins. 

We  (liall  pafs  by  the  feveral  fteps  and  meafures 
of  the  revolution;  for  to  give  an  account  of  all  Brif^ 
fot's  concern  therein,  would  be  to  write  a  large  vo- 
.  lume  upon  that  event  only.  But  the  mention  of  a 
few  circumilances  which  arc  attached  to.  Briflbt  pe- 
culiarly, is  indifpenlible. 

By. the  intereft,  or  rather  influence,  of  Fayette,  he 
was  made  a  member  of  the  Commune  of  Paris.  He 
was  agent  of  the  Police,  and  a  member  of  the  Comr 
mittee  of  Infpedion  at  Paris?  and  afterwards  a  re* 
prefentative  for  the  department  of  Eure  a.id  Loire. 

He  commenced  a  newfpaper,  which  he  called 
Pat)iote  Frafi^ais)  in  which  he  conftantly  deft  ided 
the  condudV  of  la  Fayette.  Hi,  attached  himfelf  to 
the  party^ called  Girondifls. 

,To  the  Engl ifli  reader  this  name  may  require 
fome  explanation.  The  warm  and  moft  violent 
of  the  National  Convention,  having  gained  the 
confidence  and  fupport  of  the  city  of  Paris  by 
various  arts,  but  principally  by  declaring,  upon 
every  opportunity,  that  Paris  mull  conflantly  be  the 
place  in  which  the  National  Reprefentation  muu 
hold  (heir  deliberations;  to  balance  againil  this 
power  of  Paris,  Condorcet,  Petion,  Vergniaux,  Brif- 
fot,  Ifnard,  and  others,  all  members  of  tiie  Conven- 
tion, endeavoured  to  gain  the  commercial  cities  in 
their  intereft.     Bourdeaux  was  the  principal  of  thofe 

'     b  i  cities 


v.^ 


xviu 


FKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE 


►» 


t 


cities  which  joined  them;  it  is  (itiiatcd  on  the  river 
Garoane,  locally  pronounced  Gironde^  which  being 
the  center  of  a  department,  named  horn  the  river, 
the  appellation  ot  Gn'ondifts  was  given  to  the  whole 
party.  • 

The  whole  was  a  ftruggle  for  power:  there  was 
no  other  obje6t  whatever.  It  is  a  foolifti,  and  an  idle 
aflertion,  in  thofe  who  fay,  that  Briflbt  and  the  party- 
had  engaged  in  a  plot  to  reftore  the  monarchy  of 
France.  Whatever  their  opinions  might  have  been 
in  fomc  of  the  early  ftages  of  the  revolution,  perhaps 
from  an  npprchenfion  that  thcpeople  of  France  might 
hefitate  at  an  abrupt  propofition  of  a  republican  go- 
vernment, they  were  unqueftionably  innocent  of 
the  charge  at  the  time  it  was  made.  Here  follow, 
however,  the  documents  as  publifhed  by  authority, 
3n  juftification  of  the  execution,  which,  like  all  other 
ilate  papers,  in  every  country,  confift  of  the  beft 
npology,  or  moft  t:olourable  pretence,  for  a  thing 
that  has  been  done  by  order  of  government. 

Report  againjl  Brijfot^  and  the  other  arrefted  Deputies  i 
made  O^ober  3,   1793. 

The  Citizens  of  Paris,  being  informed  that  Amar 
was  to  prcfent  his  report  from  the  Committee  of  Ge- 
neral Safety  this  day,  filled  the  galleries  ai  a  very 
rarly  hour. 

As  foon  as  he  appeared  at  the  bar,  the  applaufes 
were  {o  loud  and  continued,  that  he  was  unable  to 
begin  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

At  length,  amidft  the  moft  profound  filence,  he 
read  his  report. 

He  began  by  ftating,  that,  before  he  proceeded  to 
the  report  which  had  been  expelled  with  fuch  im- 
patience, and  would  amply  recompenfe  the  unavoid- 
able delay  that  had  prevented  a  more  fpeedy  gratifi- 
cation of  the  willies  of  the  people,  he  was  com* 

mauded 


OF    J.  P.  BRISSOT. 


XIX 


manded  by  the  Committee  of  General  Safety  to  re- 
queft  that  none  of  the  members  of  the  Convention 
Ihould  be  allowed  to  go  out  till  the  decree  of  accu- 
fation  had  been  adopted.  This  requcft  was  imme- 
diately complied  with,  and  a  decree  being  parted, 
the  Prefident  gave  orders  to  the  Commander  of  the 
National  Guards  to  allow  no  members  to  go  beyond 
the  bar. 

Amarthen  affirmed  that  the  gigantic  arm  of  trea- 
fon  had  been  uplifted  to  ftrike  the  reprefentative 
majefty  of  the  people,  and  to  level  w"  h  the  ground 
the  unity  and  indivifibility  of  the  French  Republic. — 
The  arm  of  treafon  had  been  nerved  and  fupportcd 
by  the  united  energies  of  Briflbt,  Condorcet,  Gaudet, 
Vergniaud,  and  the  other  Deputies. 

Briflbt,  the  leader  of  this  traitorous  band,  com- 
menced his  political  career  by  being  a  Member  of 
the  Commune  of  Paris,  to  which  he  was  introduced 
by  La  Fayette,  to  whole  defigns  he  had  proftituted 
his  pen.  At  this  aera  of  his  life  he  made  his  ap- 
pearance three  times  in  the  Jacobin  Club.  In  the 
firfl  vifit  he  propofed  thofe  meafures  which  have 
proved  fo  difaftrous  to  the  Colonies ;  in  the  fecond, 
he  attempted  to  produce  the  afliirtination  of  the  peo- 
ple in  the  Champ  de  Mars;  and  in  the  third  vifit  he 
moved  tiie  declaration  of  war  againft  Great-Britain. 

Introduced  into  the  Legiflative  Aflcmbly,  he  im- 
mediately entered  into  a  coalition  with  Condorcet 
and  the  Girondine  faction,  whofe  defigns  he  approv- 
ed and  fupported.  The  confiimmation  of  the  ob- 
ject of  this  coalition  was  to  have  been  produced  by 
the  furrender  of  the  Republican  body  to  the  viola- 
tion of  the  Allied  Powers,  and  by  the  deftru<5i:ion  of 
that  unity  and  indivifibility  which  can  alone  be  ex- 
pected fro  combat  with  efrecft  the  tyrants  who  would 
undermine  the  proud  pillar  of  Liberty,  and  deftroy 
even  the  veftigc  of  freedom  from  the  face  of  the 
earth. 

The 


^ 


> 


Wl:' 


i 


tX  SKETCH   OF  THE  LIFE 

The  Court  made  iife  of  their  influence  to  declare 
war  at  a  moment  when  the  armies  and  the  fortified 
places  were  in  aftatc  of  abfoliite  want,orcntrulled  to 
traitors  chofen  by  a  perjured  King.  They  protected 
Narbonne,  the  minifter,  whom  all  France  accufed  of 
the  meaUires  taken  to  render  this  war  fatal  to  liber- 
ty; and  in  their  Journals  they  calumn'ated  the  Pa- 
triots who  had  the  courage  to  rcfifl:  them.  They  de- 
fended Dietrifch,  convirted  of  bcino;  an  accomplice 
with  La  Fayette,  and  of  having  offered  to  give  up 
Stralhoure;  and  while  the  chiefs  of  that  fadtion  pro- 
te£ted  the  confpirators  and  traitorous  Generals,  the 
patriotic  folJiers  were  profcribed,  and  the  volunteers 
of  Paris  fent  to  be  butchered. 

During  the  time  we  were  furrounded  by  the  fa- 
tcllites  of  defpots,  when  the  court  was  going  to 
open  the  gates  of  France  to  them,  after  having  cauf- 
cd  the  intrepid  defenders  of  liberty  to  be  murdered 
at  Paris,  Briflbt  and  his  accomplices  did  all  they 
could  to  counteract  the  generous  efforts  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  to  favc  the  tyrant.  During  and  after  the 
unhappy  infurre6lion  of  the  loth  of  Auguli,  tiiey 
endeavoured  to  prevent  the  abdication  of  Louis  XVI, 
and  topreferve  to  him  the  crown. 

In  the  night  of  the  lath  of  Auguft,  Petion,  fliut: 
up  in  the  Thuilleries,  confulted  with  the  fatellites  of 
tyrants  the  plan  to  mafllicre  the  };eople,  and  gavt  or- 
ders to  Mandat,  Commander  of  the  National  Guards, 
to  let  the  people  come  in,  and  then  to  cannonade 
them  in  the  rear.  A  few  days  before,  Genlbnne 
and  Vergniaud  engaged  to  defend  Louis  XVL  on 
condition  that  the  three  mlnifters,  Roland,  Claviere, 
and  Servan  were  recalled. 

Petion  and  La  Source  made  ufe  of  all  their  means 
to  fend  the  federates  from  Paris.  Briflbt,  K^rfaint, 
and  Rouyer,  according  to  the  letters  found  in  the 
Thuilleries,  gave  bad  advice  to  the  tyrant,  and,  in 
defiance  of  the  laws,  they  dared  to  loHcit  places  ia 

the 


OF  J.  P.  BRISSOT. 


XXI 


o  declare 

fortified 

rulled  to 

jroteded 

ecu  fed  of 

to  Hber- 

the  Pa- 

They  de- 

complicc 

J  give  up 

ion  pro- 

erals,  the 

oluntecrs 

y  the  fa- 
going  to 
ing  cauf- 
murdered 
all  they 
the  peo- 
.  after  the 
rull,  tiiev 
3uis  XVI. 

tion,  (liut 
itellites  of 
1  gave  or- 
il  Guards, 
annonade 
[^enfonne 
XVI.  on 
Claviere, 

?ir  means 
K^rfaint, 
nd  in  the 
and,  ia 
places  ia 
the 


4 


the  miniftry,  under  a  promife  to  extend  the  dcftruc- 
tive  authorities  of  the  defpot. 

The  projeft  to  overturn  the  foundation  of  the 
Republic,  and  to  murder  the  friends  of  Liberty, 
was  put  in  pra(fVicc  in  the  Legiflir»ivc  Aflembly,  by 
lirilfot,  in  his  infidious  harangue  on  the  20th  of  July, 
1792,  oppofing  the  abdication  of  the  throne.  We 
have  (ecn  lirilfDt  and  his  accomplice's  Republicans 
under  Monarchy,  and  Royalifts  under  the  Repub- 
lic; always  conftant  in  their  defigns  to  ruin  the 
French  nation,  and  to  abandon  it  to  its  enemies. 
At  the  time  the  hvpocritical  tyrant,  Louis  the  XVI. 
came  into  the  Alfembly  to  accufe  the  people,  whofe 
mafTacre  he  had  prepared, — Vergniaud,  like  a  true 
accomplice  of  the  tyrant,  told  him — '*  That  the  Af- 
fembly  held  it  to  be  one  of  their  moft  facred  duties 
to  maintain  all  conftitutcd  authorities,  and  confe- 
quently  that  of  Royalty. '' 

When  the  Attorney-general,  Raderer,  came  to 
announce,  with  the  accent  of  grief,  that  the  citi- 
zens in  infurrcdtion  had  taken  the  refolution  not  to 
feparate  till  the  AfTembly  had  pronounced  the  for- 
feiture of  the  Crown,  Prefident  Vergniaud  filenced 
the  applaufes  from  the  gallaries  by  telling  them,  that 
they  violated  the  laws  in  obftru6ting  the  freedom  of 
oninion;  and  he  told  Raderer,  that  the  Afiemblv 
was  going  to  take  into  immediate  confideration  the 
propofal  which  he,  Vergniaud,  had  made,  fliewing 
the  neceflity  of  prefervingtheexiftence  of  the  King. 

Kerfaint  feconded  the  motion.  Geradet  propofed 
to  liiierate  Mandat,  who  was  arrefled  for  having 
given  orders  to  fire  on  the  people;  or,  in  the  event 
that  that  commander  wds  no  more,  to  fend  a  depu- 
tation of  twelve  Girondilt  members,  authorifed  to 
choofe  hisfuccelTor,  inorderby  this  means  to  keep  the 
piiblic  force  at  the  difpofition  of  that  mifchievous 
faction. 

In  that  memorable  fitting  of  the  loth  of  Aiiguft, 

the 


m\ 


)l 


I 


r 

(1(1 


ii 


xxii 


SKETCH   or  TMK   MFB 


tlic  Girondift  chiefs,  Vergniaud,  Cuadet,  and  Gcn- 
ionne,  look  bv  turns  the  chair,  and  went  to  the 
galleries  to  flacken  the  energy  of  the  pco[)le,  and  to 
fave  Royalty,  under  the  lirield  of  the  j)rcr(nded  con- 
ftitution.  They  fpoke  of  nothing  but  obedience 
to  the  conllitulional  lavvslo  ihofecitrzcni)  tiiat  came 
to  the  bar  to  protect  tiieir  newly  acquired  liberty. 

When  the  nuinicipality  came  to  invite  the  Allem- 
b)y  to  fend  i  he  pro,^t's-vc'r  If  a/  oi  the  grfat  o[)eratic)iis  of 
the  loth  t.f  Ani^ull,  in  order  to  prevent  the  calum- 
nies of  the  enemies  of  liberty,  Ginulct  interrupted 
I  he  members  who  made  that  demand,  by  making  a 
motion  to  recommend  anew  to  the  magiftrates  the 
execution  of  the  laws. — He  blamctl  the  Council  of 
the  Commune  for  having  confined  Petion  in  his  own 
houfe;  though  they  did  it  in  order  to  render  it  im- 
poffible  for  that  impoftor  to  make  e/en  infurredion 
iubfcrvient  to  a<ft  a<>'iin(t  liberty. 

When  a  deputation  from  the  I'uburb  St.  Antoine 
came  to  announce  tb.e  civic  alflidion  of  the  widows 
and  children  maflacrcj  on  that  day,  the  perfidious 
(iuadet  cooly  anfwered  them,  *'  Tiuit  the  Aflembly 
hoped' to  reflore  public  tranquillity  and  the  reign  of 
the  laws." 

Vergniaud,in  the  name  of  the  extraordinary  com- 
mifiion  direded  by  that  fa£lion,  propofed  the  fuf- 
j'senfion  of  the  King,  who  had  been  dethroned  by  the 
j^eople,  as  a  fimple  confervatory  ad  of  royalty;  and 
feemed  greatly  atteded  at  the  events -which  had  laved 
the  country,  and  operated  the  ruin  of  the  tyrants. 
He  oppofed  Choudieu's  motion,  tending  to  exclude 
from  the  Convention  the  members  of  both  the  Le» 
giflative  and  Conilituent  Affemblies;  and  with  the 
lame  cunning  he  prev^ented  the  regilters  of  the  civil 
lift  from  being  depofited  on  the  table. 

Gaudet  wifiied  to  have  a  governor  named  to  the 
fon  of  the  late  King,  whon^  he  called  ttie  Prince 
Koyal.     Briflbt  and  his  accomplices  ahvayij  uffeded 

to 


OF  J.  ?.  BRIS80T. 


XX  la 


nd  Gcn- 

t  to  the 
,  and  to 
led  con- 
becliencc 
lat  came 
berty. 
:•  All  em - 
atioiis  of 
!  caluni- 
erriif>tcd 
lakiiig  a 
rates  the 
(uncil  of 
his  own 
IT  it  im- 
irredion 

Antoine 

widows 

crfidious 

UTembly 

reign  of 

ry  com- 
the  fuf- 
1  by  the 
Ity;  and 
id  ravtxl 
tyrants, 
exclude 
the  Lc' 
n'th  the 
:he  civil 

d  to  the 

Prince 

affected 

to 


I 


rljii'^ 


:% 


to  invoke  the  literal  execution  of  the  Connitution , 
while  the  people,  in  the  name  of  the  martyrs  who 
fell  before  the  caftle  of  the  Thuilleries,  demanded 
the  complete  overthrow  of  the  tyrant. 

Vcrgniaiid  oppofed  this  demand,  faying,  that  the 
pro[)le  of  Paris  were  but  a  fe^lion  of  the  empire, 
and  atfe(5led  to  oppofe  it  in  this  manner  to  the  de- 
parlmtnts. — He  likevvife  refiflcd  the  petition  mide 
by  the  Commons  to  put  the  tyrant  under  arrelh  He 
iifed  «ll  his  efforts  with  BriHot,  Fttion,  and  Manuel, 
to  get  Louis  XVI.  confined  in  the  lAixembourg, 
from  whence  it  would  have  been  cafier  for  him  to 
cfca})e  than  out  of  tlie  tower  of  the  temple, 

Gf  nfonne  and  Gaudct  had  the  fervility  to  publifli, 
at  ditferent  times,  that  Louis  XV L  had  commanded 
theSwifs  not  to  fireuponthe  people.  Frornthat  time, 
the  leaders  of  the  Girondifts  (Department  of  Bour- 
deaux),  compelled  to  praife  the  events  of  the  lotli 
of  Auguft,  continued,  notwithilanding,  to  under- 
mine tlic  Republic.  They  publiftied  the  fevereil 
fatircs  againft  the  Jacobins,  againft  the  Commons 
and  people  of  Paris,  and  in  general  againft  all  thofc 
who  contributed  to  the  deftruftion  of  monarchy. 
Roland's  houfe  wns  filled  with  packets  of  libels, 
which  were  to  be  dlfiributed  among  the  people,  and 
fent  into  the  departments. 

Thcfe  guilty  men  prote(^eci  all  the  confpirators, 
favoured  the  progrefs  of  Brunfwick  with  all  their 
power,  and  were  the  agents  of  the  Englifli  faction 
which  has  exerted  lb  fatal  an  influence  during  the 
coiirfe  of  our  revolution.  Carra  was  in  league  v\  ith 
certain  characters  of  the  court  of  Berlin.  In  his 
Journal  Politique  of  the  25th  of  Auguft,  179^1,  he 
formed  a  wifh,  on  account  of  the  marri:ige  of  the 
Duke  of  York  with  thePrincefs  of  PrulTia,  "  that  the 
Duke  might  become  Grand  Duke  of  Belgium,  with 
all  the  powers  of  the  King  of  the  PVench."  While 
Brunfwick  was  preparhig  to  decide  the  fate  of  the 

French 


XXIV 


SKETCH   OF  THE  LIFE 


I.        Ill 


French  nation  by  the  force  of  arms,  Carra,  in  the 
fame  Journal,  reprefented  him  as  a  great  commander, 
the  greateft  politician,  tl.e  moft  amiable  Prince  in 
Europe,  formed  to  be  the  reftorer  of  liberty  in  all 
nations. — He  publilhed,  that  this  Duke,  on  his  arri- 
val at  Paris,  would  go  to  the  Jacobins,  and  put  on 
the  red  cap,  in  order  to  intereft  the  people  in  favour 
of  this  fatellite  of  tyrants.  Finally,  Carra  was  {o 
audacious  as  to  propofe  openly  to  the  Jacobins,  for 
the  Duke  of  York  to  be  King  of  the  French. 

From  thefe  and  many  other  fads,  too  tedious  to 
mention,  there  refults,  that  Carra  and  his  aflbciates 
were  iniquitous  and  deep  dilTemblers,  penfioned  by 
England,  Pruifia,  and  Holland,  to  enable  a  Prince 
of  that  family  which  n  les  over  tlK)fe  countries  to 
obtain  the  crown  of  France.  This  fame  Carra,  to- 
gether with  Sillery,  the  diflionoured  confidant  of  a 
contemptible  Prince,  was  fent  by  the  then  reigning 
faflion  to  Dumourier,  to  complete  that  treafon  which 
faved  the  almoft  ruined  army  of  the  Pruflian  defpot. 
Dumourier  came  fuddenly  to  Paris  to  concert  with 
Briflbt,  Petion,  Guadet,  Genfonne,  and  Carra,  the 
perfidious  expedition  into  the  Auflrian  Netherlands, 
which  he  undertook  when  the  PruHian  army,  waft- 
ing away  by  contagious  diforders,  was  peaceably  re- 
tiring— while  the  French  army  was  burning  with 
indignation  at  the  ina6tion  in  which  they  were  kept. 

it  was  not  the  fault  of  this  fa<5tion,  if  the  motion 
often  made  by  Carra  to  receive  Brunfwick  at  Paris, 
was  not  realized.  He  meditated,  in  the  beginning 
of  September,  1792,  to  deliver  up  this  city,  with- 
out means  of  defence,  by  fiying  beyond  the  river' 
Loire,  with  the  Legiflative  Aflembly,  with  the  Exe- 
cutive Council,  and  with  the  captive  King.  He  was 
fupported  in  it  by  Roland,  Claviere,  and  le  Erun, 
the  creatures  and  inftruments  of  Brjifbt  and  his  ac- 
comulices. 

But  thefe  perfidious  miniHers,  having  been  threat- 
ened 


rra,  in  the 
mmander, 
J  Prince  in 
rty  in  all 
)n  his  arri- 
md  put  on 
;  in  favour 
irra  was  {o 
obins,  for 
h. 

tedious  to 
s  aflbciates 
nfioned  by 
e  a  Prince 
ountries  to 
Carra,  to- 
Bdant  of  a 
n  reigning 
ifon  which 
lan  defpot. 
mqert  with 
Carra,  the 
etherlands, 
my,  waft- 
accably  re- 
ning  with 
were  kept, 
he  motion 
k  at  Paris, 
beginning 
:ity,  with- 
the  river' 
;h  theJExc- 
g.  He  was 
d  le  Brun, 
nd  his  ac- 

een  threal:- 
cned 


m 


■     \ 

i'  • 


t)F  J.  ?.  BRISSOT.  XXr 

med  by  one  of  their  colleagues  to  hi  denounced  to 
the  people,  it  was  then  that  Carra  and  Sillery  were 
fent  to  Dumourier,  to  authorize  this  General  to  ne* 
gociate  with  Frederick  William,  to  enable  this  Prince 
to  get  out  of  the  kingdom,  on  condition  that  he 
{hould  leave  the  Netherlands  without  the  fufficient 
means  of  defence,  and  deliver  them  up  to  the  nume- 
rous and  triumphant  armies  of  France. 

The  calunmious  harangues  that  were  made  in  the 
Tribunes  were  pn^pared  or  (linc^ioned  at  Roland's, 
or  in  the  meetings  that  were  held  at  Valaze's  arid  Pe- 
tion's.  Tliey  propofed  to  furround  the  Convention, 
'vith  a  pretorian  guard,  under  the  name  of  Depart- 
mental Force,  which  was  to  be  the  bsHs  of  their 
focderal  fyltem.  In  the  Legiflative  Alfembly  they 
meditated  a  flight  beyond  the  Loire-,  with  the  Aflcm- 
bly,  the  Executive  Council,  the  Royal  Family,  and 
the  public  treafure.  Kcrfaint,  at  his  return  from  Se- 
dan, dared  to  propofe  this  projcft  to  the  Executive 
Council;  and  it  was  fupported  by  Roland,  Claviere, 
^nd  le  Brun,the  creatures  and  inftruments  of  Briflbt. 

The  faction  drove  to  puto.^  the  judgment  of  the 
tyrant  by  impeding  the  difculiion.  They  appointed 
a  commiiUon  of  twenty-four  members  to  examine 
the  papers  found  in  the  Thuilleres,  in  the  guilt  of 
which  fome  of  thefe  members  were  implicated;  and 
they  endeavoured,  in  concert  with  Roland,  to  con- 
ceal thofe  which  tended  to  difcover  their  tranfa6lion 
with  the  court.  They  voted  for  the  appeal  to  the 
people,  which  would  have  been  a  germ  for  civil  vjar, 
fend  afterward,^  wanted  a  refpite  to  the  judgment. 

They  incefllintly  repeated,  that  the  Convention 
could  do  no  good,  and  that  it  was  not  free.  Thefe 
declamations  milled  the  departments,  and  induced 
them  to  form  a  coalition  which  was  near  being  fatal 
to  France. 

They  patronized  an  incivic  peace,  entitled,  Z,'<7w« 
^es  L 


oix^ 


On 


acxvi 


SKETCH   OF  THE  LIFE 


On  the  14th  of  January,  Barbaroux  and  his  friends 
had  given  orders  to  the  battahon  of  Marfeillois  to 
furround  the  Convention. 

On  the  20th,  VaUdi  wrote  to  the  other  deputies, 
**  To-morrow  in  arms  to  the  Convention — he  is  a 
coward  who  does  not  appear  there.'* 

BrifTot,  after  the  condemnation  of  Louis  Capet, 
cenfured  the  Convention,  and  threatened  France 
with  the  vengeance  of  the  European  Kings.  When 
it  was  his  obie<9^  to  bring  on  war,  he  fpoke  in  an  op- 
pofite' fenfe,  and  treated  the  downfal  of  all  thrones, 
and  the  conqueft  of  the  univerfe,  as  the  fport  of  the 
French  nation.  Being  the  organ  of  the  Diplomatic 
Committee,  compofed  almoft  entirely  of  the  fame 
fa^ion,  he  propofed  war  fuddenly  againft  England, 
Holland,  and  all  the  powers  that  had  not  then  de- 
clared themfclves. 

This  lidion  acted  in  coalition  with  perfidious 
Generals,  particularly  with  Dumourier.  Genfonne 
held  a  daily  correfpondence  with  him:  Pelion  was 
liis  friend.  He  avowed  himfclf  the  Counfellor  of 
the  Orleans  party,  and  had  connexion  with  Sillery 
and  his  wife. 

After  the  revolt  of  Dumourier,  Vergniaud,  Gua- 
det,  BrilTot,  and  Genfonne,  wifhed  to  juftify  his 
conduct  to  the  Committee  of  General  Defence,  af- 
lerting  that  the  denunciations  made  againfl  him  by 
the  Jacobins  and  the  Mountain  were  the  caufe  of  his 
conduct;  and  that  Dumourier  was  the  proteftor  oi" 
the  found  part  of  the  Convention.  This  was  the 
;^rty  of  which  Petion,  BrifTot,  Vergniaud,  St'C.  were 
the  chiefs  and  the  orators. 

When  Dumourier  was  declared  a  traitor  by  the 
Convention,  BrifTot,  in  the  Patriote  Fran^oife^  as  well 
;  s  other  writers,  who  were  his  accomplices,  praifed 
liim,  inMefiance  of  the  law.  As  members  of  thr 
Committee  of  General  Defence,  they  ought  to  have 
given  information  relative  to  the  preparations  that 

were 


'■-•!• 


s 


OF    J.  P.  BRISSOT.  XXVii 

were  making  in  La  Vendee.  The  Convention, 
however,  was  not  made  acquainted  with  tiiem  till 
:hp  war  became  ferious. 

They  armed  the  Se(5lions  where  Ariflocracy  reign- 
cd,againft  thole  where  public  fpirit  was  trium{)hant. 

They  affe(5ted  to  believe  that  a  plot  was  meditated 
by  the  Republicans  againft  the  National  Conven- 
tion, for  the  purpofe  of  naming  thecommiliion  of 
twelve,  who,  in  an  arbitrary  mantier,  imprifoned 
the  magi  Urates  of  the  people,  and  made  war  againfl 
the  patriots. 

Iinard  developed  the  views  of  the  conrpiracy, 
when  he  ufed  this  atrocious  exprefEon :  "  The  ado- 
nijQied  traveller  will  feek  on  vvhat  banks  of  the  Seine 
Paris  once  ftood."  The  Convention  diflblved  the 
commiflion,  which,  hov/sver,  refumed  its  fimdions 
on  its  own  authority,  and  continued  to  afl. 

The  fadlion,  by  the  addreflts  which  it  fent  to  the 
departments,  armed  them  againfl  Paris  and  the  Con- 
vention. The  death  of  numbrrs  of  patriots  in  the 
fouthern  departments,  and  particularly  at  Marfeilles, 
where  they  periflied  on  the  fcafiold,  was  the  confc- 
quence  of  thofe  fatal  divifions  in  the  Convention, 
of  which  they  were  the  authors. — The  defe(5^ion 
of  Marfe'lles  foon  produced  that  of  Lyons.  This 
important  city  became  the  central  point  of  the  coun- 
ter-revolution in  the  South.  The  republican  muni- 
cipality was  dlfperfed  by  the  rebels,  and  good  citi- 
zens were  malfacred. — Every  puniflimentthat  cruel- 
ty could  dcvife  to  increafe  the  torments  of  death  was 
put  in  execution.  Tlie  adminiftrati^e  bodies  were 
leagued  partly  with  Lyons,  and  partly  with  foreign 
Ariftocrats,  and  with  the  Emigrants  difperfcd  through 
the  Swifs  Cantons. 

The  cabinet  of  London  afforded  life  and  energy 
to  this  rebellious  league.  Its  pretext  wns  the  ana;  - 
ch'y  that  reigned  at  Paris — its  leaders,  the  traitorous 
dspuiesof  the  Convention. 

c  a  M' hilft 


:AaM; 


XXVIH 


SKETCH   OP  THE  LIYE 


i  . 


'■i 


Whilft  they  made  this  powerful  diverfion  in  fa- 
vour of  the  tyrants  united  againft  us,  La  Vend6e 
continued  to  drink  the  blood  of  the  patriots. 

Carra  and  Duchatel  were  fent  to  this  department 
in  quality  of  Deputies  from  the  National  Conven- 
tion. 

Carra  publicly  exhorted  the  adminiftrators  of  the 
Maine  and  Loire  to  fend  troops  againft  Paris.  Both 
iheff  deputies  were  at  the  fame  time  connected  with 
the  Generals  of  tlie  combir  cd  armies. 

Couflard,  fent  alfo  as  a  commiflioner,  carried  his 
treafonable  projects  to  fuch  a  length,  as  even  to  fur- 
niih  fupplies  of  provifions  and  liores  to  the  rtbels. 
The  miiTion  of  the  agents  of  this  fa<5tion,  fent  to 
different  parts  of  the  republic,  was  marked  by  fingu- 
lar  traitorous  meafureS. 

Perhaps  the  column  of  republican  power  would 
ere  this  have  ineafured  its  length  upon  the  ground, 
if  the  confpirators  had  preferved  much  longer  their 
inordinate  power.  On  the  loth  of  Auguft,  the  foun- 
dation of  the  column  was  laid;  en  the  31ft  of  May 
it  was  preferved  from  deftruct'on.  The  accufed 
pnblilhed  ?.  ilioui'dud  ftditious  adv.reffes,  a  thoufand 
counter-revolutionary  libels,  fuch  as  that  addrefled 
by  Condorcet  to  the  department  of  the  Aifne.  They 
are  the  difgraceful  monuments  of  the  treafon  by 
which  they  hoped  to  involve  France  in  ruin. 

Duces  andFonfrede  formed  the  flame  of  the  rebel- 
lion, by  their  correfpondence  and  their  fpeeches,  in 
which  they  celebrated  tl;e  virtues  of  the  confpirators. 

Several  of  thefe  confpirators  fled,  and  difperfed 
thcmff  Ives  through  the  departments — They  tllablifli- 
td  there  a  kind  of  National  Convention,  and  invefl- 
ed  llie  adminiftration  with  independent  powers — • 
they  encircled  themfelves  with  guards  and  cannon, 
jMilagcd  the  public  treafuries,  intercepted  [irovifions 
that  were  on  the  road  to  Paris,  and  fent  them  to  the 
revolted  inhabitants  o.  the  former  provinces  of  liri- 

tanny. 


t 


OF  J.  P.  ERISSOT.  XXlX 

tanny.  Thfy  levied  a  new  army,  and  gave  Wimp- 
fen,  degraded  by  his  attachment  to  tyranny,  the 
command  of  this  army. 

They  attempted  to  efFt'fl  a  jundion  with  the  re- 
bels of  la  Vendee,  and  to  furrender  to  the  enemy  the 
provinces  of  Britanny  and  Normandy. 

They  deputed  afHiffins  to  Paris,  to  murder  the 
members  of  the  Convention,  and  particularly  Marat, 
whofe  deilrui^ion  they  had  folemnly  fworn  to  ac- 
complifli.  They  put  a  poignard  into  the  hands  of  a 
woman  who  was  recommended  to  Duperret  by  Bar- 
baroax  and  his  accomplices.  She  was  conveyed  into 
the  gallery  of  the  Convention  by  Fauchet,— The 
enemies  of  France  exalted  her  as  a  heroine.  Petiou 
pronounced  her  apoiheolis  at  Caen,  and  threw  over 
the  blood-ftaincd  form  of  aUallination  the  fno wy 
robe  of  virtue. 

Girey  Duprc,  the  colleague  of  BrilTot,  in  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Piitriote  Francais,  j)iinted  at  Caen  fe- 
veral  fongs,  which  Invited,  in  a  formal  manner,  the 
citizens  of  Caen  to  arm  thcmfelves  with  poignards, 
for  the  purpofe  ci  iVabbing  three'  deputies  of  the 
Convention,  who  were  pointexl  cut  by  name. 

BrifTot  fled  with  a  lie  added  to  his  other  crimes. 
Had  he  gone  to  Switzerland,  as  the  f:dfe  paflporc 
flated,  it  would  have  been  for  the  purpofe  of  excit- 
ing a  new  enemy  againfl  France. 

Rabaud  St.  Etierre,  Rcbecqui,  Duprat,  and  An." 
tiboul,  carried  the  torch  of  fedition  into  the  depart- 
ment of  ie  Gard  and  the  neighbouring  departments. 
Biroteau,  Rouger,  and  Roland,  projev5tcd  tiieirter 
rible  plots  in  Lyons,  where  they  poured  the  ample 
llream  of  patriotic  blood,  by  attaching  to  the  friends 
of  tlieir  country  the  appellation  of  anarchids  and 
monopolizers. 

At  Toulon  thefe  endeavours  were  fuccefsfui,  and 
Toulon  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Englifli.  The 
lame  lot  v\  ai  i-cfcrved  for  Bourdcaux  and  Marfeilics, 

c  3  The 


u 


■m  > 


'( ^  I 


A 


XXX 


SKETCH  OP  THE  LIFE 


The  reigning  fa<^ion  had  made  fome  overtures  to 
Lord  Hood,  whofe  fleet  they  expe6ted.  The  entire 
execution  of  the  confpiracy  in  the  South  waited  only 
for  the  junftion  of  the  Marfeillefe  and  Lyonefe, 
which  was  prevented  by  the  viftory  gained  by  the 
Republican  army  which  produced  the  reduction  of 
Marfeilles. 

The  meafures  of  the  confpirators  were  exactly 
fimilar  to  thofe  of  the  enemies  of  France,  and  par- 
ticularly of  the  Englifli. — Their  writings  differed  in 
nothing  from  thofe  of  the  Englifh  miniftcrs,  and  li- 
bellers in  the  pay  of  the  Englifli  minifters. 

Mr.  PITT. 

Wifhed  to  degrade  and  to 
diflblve  the  Convention. 

He  wiftied  to  affaflinate  the 
members  of  the  Convention. 

He  wi/hed  to  deftroy  Paris. 

He  wifhed  to  arm  all  na- 
tions againft  France. 

In  this  intended  partition  of 
France,  Mr.  Pitt  wi/hed  to 
procure  a  part  for  the  Duke  of 
York,  or  fome  other  branch 
4>f  his  mafter's  family. 

He  endeavoured  to  deftroy 
•ur  coloiiics. 


The  DEPUTIES. 
Attempted  to  do  the  fame. 

The  deputies  procured  the 
ai^'^iininati  on  of  Marat  and  Le 
Pelletier. 

'i  he  deputies  did  all  In  their 
power  to  produce  this  tffeft. 

The  deputies  obtained  a  de- 
claration of  war  agalnft  all  na-' 
tioRS. 

Carra  and  BrifTot  entered 
into  a  panegyric  of  the  Dukes 
of  York  ai.d  Brunfwick,  and 
even  went  fo  far  as  lb  propofe 
them  for  K'ngs. 

The  deputies  have  produced 
the  dcftrudion  of  the  colonies, 

Brlflbt,  Petion,  Guadet, 
Genfonne,  Vergniaud,  Ducos, 
and  Fonfrede,  direfted  the 
meafures  relative  to  the  colo- 
nics, which  meafures  reduced 
them  to  the  moft  lamentable 
iituatien. 

Santhonax  and  Polverel,  the  guihy  Commiffioners 
who  ravaged  the  colonies  with  fire  and  fword,  are 
their  accomplices.  Proofs  of  their  corruption  exift 
in  the  cori-efpondence  of  Raimond,  thtir  creature. 

Of 


OF  J,  P.  BRISSOT. 


xxxl 


ertures  to 
rhe  entire 
aited  only 
Lyonefe, 
ed  by  the 
lii6lion  of 

•e  exactly 

and  par- 

iiffered  in 

•s,  and  li- 

riES. 
the  fame. 

•ocurcd    the 
arat  and  Le 

1  all  In  their 
his  tffedt. 
lained  a  ie- 
a'lnflallna- 

fot   entered 

"  the  Dukes 

fwlck,  and 

to  propofe 


Of  the  numerous  fatts  of  which  the  fa<^ion  are 
accufed,  feme  relate  only  to  particular  individuals; 
the  general  confpiracy,  however,  is  attached  to  all. 

Upon  this  a6t  of  accufation  they  were  tried  before 
the  Revolutionary  Tribunal,  on  the  30th  day  of 
O(£lober,  1793.  When  the  a6t  of  accufation  was 
read  to  them  in  the  court,  they  refufcd  to  make  any 
anfwer  to  it,  unlefs  Robefpierre,  Barrere,  and  other 
members  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  were  prefent, 
rnd  interrogated :  they  inlifted  upon  thofe  members 
being  fent  for;  which  being  refufed,  and  they  fliil 
refuiing  to  make  any  anfwer,  the  Judge  ftated  to  the 
Jury,  that  from  the  a6t  of  accufation  it  rcfulted  that, 

I.  There  exifted  a  confpiracy  againft  the  unity 
and  indivifibility  of  the  Republic,  the  liberty  and 
fafety  of  the  French  people. 

II.  That  all  the  individuals  denounced  in  the  -.xS: 
of  accufation  are  guilty  of  this  confpiracy,  as  being 
either  the  authors  of,  or  the  accomplices  in  it. 

The  Jury  of  the  Revolutionary  Tribunal  brought 
in  their  verdift  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  on  the 
30th  of  October,  againft 


Vergniaud 

Genfonne 

Duprat 

Valaze 

Lehardi 

Ducos 

Fonfrede 

Borleau 

Gardien 

Duchatel 


BRISSOT, 


Sillery 

Fauchet 

Duperret 

Lafource 

Carra 

Beauvais 

Mainvieile 

Antlboul 

Vigee,  and 

Lacaze, 


who  were  declared  to  be  the  authors  and  accompli- 
*ces  of  a  confpiracy  which  had  exifted  againft  the 
unity  and  indivifibility  of  the  Republic,  againft  the 
liberty  and  fecurity  of  the  French  people. 

The 


Xxxil      SKETCH  OF  THE  tIFE  OF  J.  P.  BRISSOT. 

The  Prefident  of  the  Revolutionarv  Tribunal  im- 
mediately  pronounced  the  fentence  decreed  by  the 
conftitution: — That  they  fliould  luffcr  the  punifii- 
inent  of  death — that  their  execution  fliould  take 
place  on  the  fubfcquent  day,  on  the  Place  ik  RevO' 
lution — that  their  property  flioidd  be  confifcated,  and 
that  this  fentence^  fliould  be  printed  and  ported  up 
throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the  republic. 

As  foon  as  the  fentence  was  pronounced,  Valaze 
pulled  a  dagger  from  his  pocket  and  ftabbed  him- 
ielf. — The  Tribunal  immediately  ordered  that  the 
body  fnould  be  conveyed  on  the  morrow  to  the 
Flace  de  la  Revolution^  with  the  other  deputies. 

At  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  on  the  31ft, 
the  execution  took  place.  The  flreets  were  lined 
with  foldierr,  and  every  precaution  taken  to  prevent 
the  difturbance  oi  the  public  tranquillity. 

Duchatel,  Ducos,  Fonfrede,  and  Lehardi,  pre- 
ferved  a  firm  and  undaunted  air,  and  furveyed  the 
engine  of  death  with  a  compofed  and  unruffled  coun- 
tenance. 

The  deportment  of  Bridot  was  manly — he  pre- 
served a  fixed  fiience,  and  fubmitted  his  head  to  the 
guillotine,  after  furveying  ftedfaftly,  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, the  Deputies,  to  whom,  however,  he  did  not 
fpeak. 

Sillery  faluted  the  people  with  much  refpe»5V,  and 
converfed  a  lliort  time  with  his  confeflbr,  as  did 
Fauchet. — Lafource  died  in  a  penitential  manner.- — 
Carra,  Vergniaud,  Geiifonne,  Duperret,  Gardien, 
Duprat,  Beauvais,  Mainvielle, -Lacaze,  Antiboul, 
and  Vigec,  died  with  firmnefs,  and  with  the  excla- 
mation  of  **  f^ive  la  RepulUque.^' — The  execution 
was  concluded  in  thiity-feven  minutes. 


% 


CONTENTS, 


.)unal  im- 
by  the 
punifli- 
)uld  take 
lie  RevO' 
cated,  and 
ported  up 
e. 

J,  Valaze 

bed  him- 

that  the 

Dw  to  the 

ies. 

the  31ft, 
vere  bined 
0  prevent 

ardi,  pre- 
veyed  the 
fled  coun 

— he  prc- 
ead  to  the 
1  fevv  mo- 
he  did  not 

rpe»5l,  and 
or,  as  did 
nanner. — 
Gardien, 
Antiboiil, 
the  excla- 
execution 


:l 


CONTENTS. 


I 


Page. 


NTRODUCTION 


CHAPTER  I. 


Of  Plxternal  Commerce;  the  circumftances 
which  lead  to  it,  and  the  Means  of  afluring 
it  to  a  Nation    .         .         .         .         .         •     1 7 

CHAPTER  n. 

Of  External  Commerce,  confidered  in  its 
Means  of  Exchange,  and  its  Balance      .     .     24 

CHAPTER  HI. 

Application  of  the  foregoing  general  Principles 
to  the  reciprocal  Commerce  of  France  and 
;  lie  United  States       ^         .         .         .         ,     38 

CHAPTER  IV. 

That  the  United  States  are  obliged  by  their  pre- 
fent  Necelfities  and  Circumfiances  to  engage 
in  foreign  Commerce         ,         .         .         •46 

,     CHAPTER  V. 

Of  the  Importation  to  be  made  from  France 
into  the  United  States,  or  of  the  Wants  of 
the  United  States  and  the  Productions  of 
France  vyhiclj  correfpond  thereto        .        .    64 


I 


xxxiv 


CONTENl^. 


Sc^lioft  I.  Wines  .  •  .  .  . 
Scc^lion  IL  Brandy  ..... 
Section  III.  Oils,  Olives,  Dry  Fruit?,  &c. 
ScHkn  IV.  Cloths  ..... 
Seilion  V.  Linens  ..... 
Se^ion  VI.  Silks,  Ribbons,   Silk  Stockings, 

Gold  and  Silver  Lace,  tire. 
Scc^hn  VI L   Hats        ..... 
Sc^lionWll.  Leather,  Shoes,  Boot-^;  Saddles, 

Cv  W>  •  m  «  •  ••  • 

Se^lioti  IX.  Glafs  Houfcs  .... 
S^i^ion  X.  Iron  and  Steel  .... 
ScHkn  XI.  [cwellerv,  Gold  :ftid  Silvcrfmiths* 

Articles,  Clock-uork,  &c. 
Seffioti  XII    Dittcrent  Sorts  of  Papc/,  Gained 

Paper,  &cc.  .         .         ►        .         . 

Se^ion  XIII,  Printing  •       .  ... 

Set^fion  XIV.  Salt 

Sefiion  XV.  General  Confiderarions  on  the 

Catalogue  of  French  Importations  into  the 

■'Jnited  Slates 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Of  the  articles   which  Independent  America 

may  furnifii  in  return  for  Importations  .^rom 

«      France       ....... 

MonfieurCalonne's  Letter  to  Mr.  JefFerfon,  the 
American  Minifier  at  Paris         ,         . 

ExpoxTs  OF  America 

Sedicfi  I.  Tobacco-  • 

SccJion  II.  Fiilieries,  Whale-oil,  &c.  Sperma 

ceti  Candles  .... 

Se^kn  III.  Corn,  Flour,  &c. 
Sedkn  IV.  Mails,  Yards,  and  other  Timber 

for  the  Navy         .... 
Sefticn  V.  Skins  and  Furs 


Page. 

74 


79 
80 

84 

92 

96 

97 
100 
103 

109 

112- 
115 

117 


118 


120 

ibid 

ibid 

123 


139 
141 

Sefiion 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 
•     65 

• 

74. 

• 

• 

79 

0 

84 

ngS 

• 
• 

dies, 

96 

• 

97 

■ 

100 

iths' 

103 

• 

ined 

109 

• 

112 

• 

115 

• 

the 

117 

>  the 

• 

118 

'rica 

rom 

120 

the 

ibid 

ibid 

ma- 

128 

iber 

13s 

139 

141 

Sffiion 

XXXV 

Page. 

H3 


ScJlion  VI.  Rice,  Inuigr   Flax-feed 

Sdcllon  Vir.  Naval  Stores,  luch  as  Pitch, 
Tar,  and  Turpentine      ....   147 

Sediofi  VIII.  Timber  and  Wood,  for  Car- 
penters and  Coopers  Work;  fuchas  Staves, 
Cafks-heads,  Planlcs,  Boards,  5cc.      .         .148 

,Scdion  IX.  Vellels  conftru<5led  in  America, 
to  be  fold  or  freighted      .         .         .         .150 

Sc^ion  X.  General Conliderntions  on  the  pre- 
ceding Catalogue  of  Importations  from  the 
United  States  into  France        .         ,         .   1 56 

Conclusion,  and  Refle<?lions  on^the  Situation 

of  the  United  States         .         .         ,         .163 

^Appendix;  confiding  of  autlienticPapers,  and 

Illultrations,  added  by  the  Editor      .         .    17T 

Return  of  the  Population  of  the  United  States  173 

Ditto  of  the  Territory  South  of  the  Ohio      .   174 

Dr.  Franklin's  Obfervations  on  the  Popula- 
tion of  America     .         .         .         .         .176 

Captain  Hutchins's  Account  of  the  Weflern 
Territory       .         .         .         .         .         .178 

Thoughts  on  the  Duiution  of  the  American 
Commonwealth      .....  206 

Mr:  Jefferfon's  State  of  the  Commercialln- 
tet^courfe  between  the  United  States  and 
Foreign  Nations     .         .         ,         .         ,  209 

Principal  Articles  of  Exportation  during  the 
Year  1792 225 

Of  the  Civil  Lift  and  Revenue  of  the  United 
States  ......  226 

Mr.  Paine's  Statement  of  the  Expences  of  the  , 
American  government  .         .        .  227 


i£ 


INTRODUCTION, 


■!%: 


INTRODUCTION, 

By  J.  P.  BRISSOT  DE  WARVILLE. 


X  HE  Court  of  Great-Britain  had  no  fooner  figned 
the  Treaty  acknowledging  the  Independence  other 
late  Colonies  in  North  America,  than  her  merchants 
and  pohtical  writers  Ibiight  the  means  of  rendering 
to  her  by  commerce  an  equivalent  for  her  lofles  by 
the  war. 

Lord  Sheffield  has  predicted,  in  his  Obfervations 
on  the  Commerce  of  America, "  that  England  would 
always  be  the  (lorehoufe  of  the  United  States;  that 
the  Americans,  conftantly  attracted  by  the  excel- 
lence of  her  manufactures,  the  long  experienced  in- 
tegrity of  her  merchants,  and  the  length  of  credit, 
which  they  only  can  give,  would  foon  forget  the 
wounds  which  the  minifterial  defpotifm  of  London, 
as  well  as  the  ferocity  of  the  Englifti  and  German 
fatellites,  had  given  to  America,  to  form  with  it  new 
and  durable  connexions."* 

This  politician  was  the  only  one  who  appeared  in 
that  career;  others  followed  it  [Dr.  Price,  &c.] 
and  the  debates,  which  the  new  regulations  of  com- 
merce propofed  for  America,  produced  in  Parlia- 
ment, prove  that  the  matter  was  known,  difcuflcd, 
and  profoundly  examined. 

B  The 

*  Thefe  are  not  Lord  Sheffield's  words*  They  are  M.  Brif- 
fot's  ;  antl  contain  his  defcription  of  I^ord  Sheffield's  supposed 
fentim^nts,  from  a  \)C  ulal  of  that  Nobleman's  Obfervations  o« 
the  Commerce  of  America.     Eoit* 


i\ 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

The  Engllfli  nation  refembled  at  that  time  a  man 
who,  coming  oitt  of  a  long  dehrium  (wherein  he  had 
broken  every  thing  that  he  ought  to  have  held  molt 
dear,)  eagerly  ftrives  to  repair  the  ravages  of  his  in- 
fanity. 

As  for  us,  we  have  triumphed,  and  the  honour  of 
the  triumph  is  aimoft  the  only  benefit  we  have  reap- 
ed. Tranquil  under  the  fhade  of  our  laurels,  we  fee 
with  indifference  the  relations  of  commerce  which 
iiature  has  created  between  us  and  the  Uniteti  States; 
^-whilfl,  to  ufe  the  language  of  vulgar  policy,  the 
Englifli,  of  whom  we  are  jealous  as  our  rivals,  whom 
we  fear  as  our  enemies,  ufe  the  greatell:  efforts  to 
make  it  impoflible  for  us  to  form  new  connexions 
with  our  new  friends. 

That  the  Englifli  will  fuccecd,  there  is  no  doubt, 
if  our  languor  be  not  foon  replaced  by  a<flivity  ;  if 
the  greateft  and  moft  generous  faculties,  on  our  part, 
do  not  fmooth  this  commerce,  new,  and  confequent- 
ly  eafy  to  be  facilitated:  finally,  if  our  ignorance  of 
the  ftate  of  America  be  not  fpeecfily  difTipatedby  the 
conftant  ftudy  of  her  refources  of  territory,  com- 
merce, finaiiCe,  &c.  and  afKnities  they  may  hav-e 
with  thofe  of  their  own. 

Our  ignorance!  This  word  will  undoubtedly 
fliock, — for  we  have  the  pride  of  an  ancient  people: 
We  think  we  know  every  thing, — have  exhaulled 
every  thing: — Yes,  we  have  exhaufled  every  thing; 
but  in  what?  In  futile  fcienc^,  in  frivolous  arts, 
in  modes,  in  luxury,  in  the  art  of  pleafing  women, 
and  the  relaxation  of  morals.  We  make  elegant 
courfes  of  chymiftry,  charming  experiments,  deli- 
cious verfes,  Grangers  at  home,  little  informed  of  any 
thing  abroad:  this  is  what  we  are;  that  is,  we  know 
every  thing  exce/>t  that  ivhic/i  is  popcr  for  us  to  knoiv.^' 

It 

*  This  airertlon  will  perhaps  appear  fevfie  and  falfe,  eve.i  to 
perfons  who  think  that  we  excel  in  phyhcs  and  the  exa«iV  fci- 
cnces.     But  in  granting  this,  is  it  ihcfe  kinds  of  fcicnces  to 


:  :?■•  ■ 


m- 


le  a  man 

;in  he  had 

[held  moft 

of  his  in- 

onour  of 

ave  reap- 

Is,  we  fee 

ce  which 

\te^  States; 

licy,  the 

Is,  whom 

efforts  \Q 

>niiexions 

no  doubt, 
^ivity ;  if 
I  our  part, 
nfequcnt- 
lorance  of 
itedby  the 
)ry,  com- 
may  have 

doubtedly 
It  people: 
exhauded 
?ry  thing; 
)lous  arts, 
;  women, 
e  elegant 
nts,  deli- 
led  of  any 
we  know 
to  knoiv.  *^* 
It 

Ife,  eve.i  to 
!  txixQ  fcJ- 
Ttienccs  to 


,5 


M 


TNTRODUCTION.  3 

^       Tr  wouTd  be  opening  a  vaft  field  to  fliew  what  is 

P  proper  for  us  to  know,  therefore  I  will  not  under- 
I  take  it.     I  confine  myielf  to  a  fmgle  point:    I  fay 
that  it  concerns  us  effentially   to-  have  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  ftvile  of  America,  and  that,  nevcr- 
thelefs,  we  have  fcaixely  begun  the  alphabet  which 
leads  to  it.     What  I  advance  has  been  faid  before  bv 
Mr.  Paine,  a  free  American,  and  who  has  not  a  lit- 
tle contributed,  by  his  patriotic  writings,  to  fpread, 
;-fi]pport,  and  exalt,  among  his  fellcw  countrymen, 
;  the  enthufiafm  of  libertv.     I  will  remark,  favs  he,  in 

%  his  judicious  letter  to  the  Abbe  Raynal,  that  I  have 
not  yet  feen  a  defcription^  given  in  Europe j  of  America^ 
•f  ivhich  the  fidelity  can  be  relied  on. 

In  France,  I  fay  it  with  forrovv,  the  fcience  of 
commerce  is  almoft  unknown,  becaufe  its  pradlice 
has  long  been  difhonoured  by  prejudice;  which  pre- 
vents the  gentry  from  thinking  of  it.     This  preju- 

"  dice,  which  is  improperly  thought  indellruil;ible, 
becaufe  the  nobilil^  are  improperly  thought  one  of 
Ihe  necelfary  elements  of  a  monarchical  conftitution ; 
this  would  alone  be  capable  of  preventing  French 
eommerce  from  having  a6f  ivity,  energy,  and  digni- 

\  ty,  were  it  not  to  be  hoped,  that  found  philofophy, 
m  deftroying  it  infenfibly,  luould  bring  men  to  the  grt^t 
idea  of  ejlvniating  individuals  by  their  talents,  and  not 
by  their  birth:  without  this  idea  there  can  be  no 
great  national  commerce,  but  ariflocratical  men  will 
abound;  that  is,  men  incapable  of  conceiving  any 
elevated  view;  and  men  contemptible,  not  in  a  (late 
to  produce  them. 

B  2  Finally, 

which  a  man  who  reflleds  ought  at  fir.l  to  give  himfelf  up? 
Does  not  the  lludy  of  his  foclal  and  civil  ftate  more  nearly  con- 
cern him  ?  Ought  not  this  to  intereft  him  more  than  the  num- 
ber of  ftars,  or  the  order  of  chyniical  atl^iiiities  ?— It  is,  how- 
ever, the  fcience  of  which  we  think  the  leaft.  Wc  are  paflion- 
ately  fond  of  poetry  :  we  difpute  fcrioufly  about  mufic;  that 
rs,  we  have  a  great  confidcr?.uon  for  playthings,  and  make  a 
plfiything  of  our  affairs. 


m 


'4  INTRODUCTION. 

finally,  another  prejudice,  quite  as  abfurd,  which 
has  been  combated  a  thoufand  times,  and  is  always 
predominant  in  France,  withholds  from  the  eyes  of 
the  public  precious  memoirs,  and  intereftiug  difcuf- 
(ions,  which  would  inform  France  of  her  interefls. 

Who  is  ignorant  that  it  is  t©  the  freedom  of  de- 
bate and  public  diicullion  that  England  owes  the  An- 
gular profperity  which,  till  lately,  has  followed  her 
every  where,  in  commerce,  in  arts,  in  manufacflures, 
as  well  abroad  as  at  home?  a  profperity  which  (lie 
may  enjoy  in  fpite  of  the  fauUs  of  her  miniflers;  for 
none  but  tkefe  have  ever  endangered  it:  and  it  is  to 
the  freedom  of  debate  that  flic  has  often  owed  her 
falvation  from  ruin.  Who  doubts  that  this  liberty 
would.iiot  produce  the  fan^c  happy  eife6ls  in  France; 
< — that  it  would  not  deftroy  falfe  appearances; — that 
it  would  not  prevent  the  deftruftive  enterprizes  of 
perfonal  interefl; — that  it  would  not  alarm  mif- 
chievous  indulgence,  or  the  coalition  of  people  in 
place  with  the  enemies  of  the  pfublic  welfare?  Go- 
vernment feems  at  prefent  to  do  homage  to  this  in- 
fluence of  the  freedom  of  difculTion.  At  length,  it 
appears  to  relax  ot  its  feverity  in  the  laws  of  the  preis ; 
it  has  fuffered  fome  fhackles,  which  retrained  dif- 
culTion, to  be  broken,  efpecially  in  political  matters. 
But  how  far  are  we  Itill  from  feeling  the  happy  ef- 
fects of  the  liberty  of  the  prefs,  rather  granted  to  pub- 
lic opinion,  than  encouraged  by  a  real  love  of  truth! 

By  what  fatality  are  energetic  difcourfes  of  truth 
ineffectual  ?  This  ought  to  be  pointed  out ;  govern- 
ment itfelf%ivites  us  to  do  it;  tlie  abufes  which  ren- 
der information  ufelels  in  France,  ought  to  be  laid 
open. 

It  is  becaufe  the  liberty  of  thinking  and  v/riting^ 
on  political  matters  is  but  of  recent  date. 

Becaufe  the  liberty  of  the  prefs  is  environed  with 
many  difgufling  circumftances;  and  that  an  honeft 
man  who  difdain*  libels,  but  loves  franknefs,  is  dri- 
ven 


:1,  which 
's  always 
eyes  of 
|g  difcuf- 
nterefts. 
1  of  de- 
s  the  fin- 
wed  her 
failures, 
hich  file 
flers;  for 
id  it  is  to 
)wed  her 
is  h'berty 
1  France; 
es; — that 
rprizes  of 
inn  mif- 
3eopIe  in 
■e  ?     Go- 

0  this  in- 
length,  it 
theprels; 
,ined  dif- 

1  matters, 
lappy  ef- 
:d  to  pub- 
of  truth ! 

1  of  truth 


INTROOUCTIOK.  ^ 

ven  from  the  prefs  by  all  thofe  humiliating  formali- 
ties which  fubje£t  the  fruit  of  his  meditation  and  re- 
fearches  to  a  ccnfurc  neceflarily  arifing  from  igno- 
rance. 

It  is  becaufe  the  cenfor,  inftituted  to  check  the 
elevation  of  a  generous  liberty,  thinks  to  flatter  au- 
thority, by  even  exceeding  the  end  propofed ;  fup- 
prefTes  truths,  which  would  frequently  have  been  rc« 
ceived,  for  fear  of  letting  too  bold  ones  efcape,  witli 
which  he  would  have  been  reproached ;  multiplies 
objedtions,  gives  birth  to  fears,  magnifies  dangers, 
and  tnus  difcourages  the  man  of  probity,  who  would 
have  enlightened  his  fellow  citizens;  whilft  this  cen- 
for fan(5tions  fcandalous  productions,  wherein  reafon 
is  facriiiced  to  farcafms,  and  fevere  morality  to  ami- 
able vices.* 

It  Is  becaufe  there  are  but  few  writers  virtuous 
enough,  fufficiently  organized,  or  in  proper  fituations 
to  combat  and  furmount  thefe  obftacles. 

Becaule  thefe  writers,  few  in  number,  have  but 
little  influence;  abufes  weakly  attacked  and  ilrongly 
defended,  refift  every  thing  which  is  oppofed  to  them. 

Becaufe  the  necelfity  of  getting  works  printed  ia 
foreign  prefTes,  renders  the  publication  difficult;  but 
few  of  them  efcaj  fr^m  the  hands  of  greedy  hawk- 
ers, who  monopolize  the  fale,  to  fell  at  a  dearer  price; 
who  pofl  the  my  fiery,  and  a  falfe  rarity,  to  fell  dear 
for  a  longer  time. 

Becaufe  thefe  books  are  wanting  in  the  moment 

B  3  ^  when 

•  We  may  put  in  the  rank  of  thefe  productions  which  dif- 
honour  the  cenforihip,  the  comedy  of  Figaro,  a  fcandalous  farce, 
wherein,  under  the  appearance  of  defending  morality,  it  is  turn- 
ed into  ridicule  j  and  whe.cin  great  truths  are  difparaged  by  the 
contemptible  dialoglft  who  prefents  them;  wherein  the  e.id 
feems  to  have  been  to  psrody  the  greateft  writers  of  the  age, 
in  givi.ig  their  language  to  a  rafcally  valet,  and  to  enconrsge 
cppreflion,  in  bringing  the  people  to  laugh  at  their  degradation, 
and  to  applaud  themfelves  for  this  mad  laughter:  finally,  i/i 
giving,  by  culpable  impoilure,  to  the  whole  nuior,  that  cha- 
radlcr  of  negligence  »nd  levity  which  belongs  only  to  her  capitalt 


fl!' 


6  INTRODtJCTION* 

when  they  would  excite  a  happy  fermentation,  and 
dire6t  it  properly,  in  giving  true  principles. 

Becaufe  they  fall  but  fucceflirely  into  the  hands 
of  well-informed  men,  who  arc  but  few  in  number, 
in  the  fearch  of  new  truths. 

Becaufe  the  Journalifts,  who  ought  to  render  them 
a  public  homage,  arc  obliged,  through  fear,  to  keep 
filence. 

Becaufe  the  general  mafs,  abandoned  to  the  tor- 
rent of  frivolous  liter3ture,  lofes  the  pleafure  of  me- 
ditation, and  with  it  the  love  of  profouod  truths. 

Finally,  becaufe  truth  is  by  this  fatal  concurrence 
of  circumftances never fown  in  a  favourable  foil,  nor 
in  a  proper  manner;  that  it  is  often  ftifled  in  iti  birth ; 
and  if  it  furvives  all  adverfe  manoeuvres,  it  gathers 
flrength  but  flowly,  and  with  difficulty;  confequent- 
ly  its  effefts  are  too  circumfcribcd  for  inftrudion  to 
become  popular  and  national. 

Let  government  remove  all  thefe  obftacles;  let  it 
have  the  courage,  or  rather  the  found  policy,  to  ren- 
der to  the  prefs  its  liberty;  and  good  works, fuch  as 
are  really  ufeful,  will  have  more  fuccefs;  from 
which  there  will  refult  much  benefit. 

Does  it  wifh  for  an  example?  I  will  quote  one, 
which  is  recent  and  well  known:  thr  law-fuit  of  the 
monopolizing  merchants  againft  the  colonifts  of  the 
fugar  iflands.  Would  not  the  laft  have,  according 
to  cuftonf),  been  cruflied,  if  the  difpute  had  been 
carried  on  in  obfcurity?  They  had  the  liberty  of 
fpeech,  of  writing,  and  of  printing;  the  public  voice 
was  raifcd  in  their  favour,  truth  was  triumphant; 
and  the  wife  minifter^  who  had  permitted  a  public 
difcuffion,  that  he  might  gain  information,  pro- 
nounced for  humanity  in  pronouncing  in  their  fa- 
vour. 

Let  us  hope  that  this  example  will  be  followed; 
that  government  will  more  and  more  perceive  the 
immenfe  advantages  which  refult  from  the  liberty  of 

the 


INTRODUCTION,  J 

the  prefs.  There  is  one  which,  above  all  others, 
ought  to  induce  it  to  accelerate  this  liberty,  becaufc 
it  nearly  regards  the  intereft  of  the  prefent  moment : 
this  liberty  is  a  powerful  means  to  eftablifh,  fortify, 
and  maintain  public  credit,  which  is  become,  more 
than  ever,  neceflary  to' great  nations,  fince  they  have 
ftood  in  need  of  loans.  As  long  as  the  attempts  of 
perfonal  intereft  are  feared  by  the  obfcurity  which 
covers  them,  public  credit  is  never  firmly  eftablifh- 
cd,  nor  does  it  rife  to  its  true  height.  It  is  no  longer 
calculated  upon  the  intrinfic  ftrength  of  its  refourcc3, 
but  upon  the  probability,  upon  the  fear  of  the  dif. 
order,  which  may  either  d' vert  them  from  their  real 
employ,  or  render  them  fterile.  The  liberty  of  the 
prcfs  keeps  perfonal  intereft  too  much  in  awe  not  to 
fetter  its  meafures;  and  then  public  credit  fupports 
itfelf  if  it  be  eftabliflied,  is  formed  if  it  be  ftill  to  be 
conftituted,  and  fortifies  itfelf  if  it  has  been  weaken- 
ed by  error. 

Full  of  thefe  ideas,  as  well  as  the  love  of  my  conn 
try,  and  furmounting  the  obftacles  to  the  liberty  of 
printing,  I  have  undertaken  to  throw  fome  light 
upon  our  commercial  affinities  with  the  United 
States.  This  obje(ft  is  of  the  greateft  importance; 
the  queftion  is,  to  develope  the  immenfe  advantages 
which  France  may  reap  from  the  revolution  which 
flie  has  fo  powerfully  favoured,  and  to  indicate  the 
means  of  extending  and  confolidating  them. 

It  appears  to  me  that  all  the  importance  of  this  re- 
volution has  not  been  perceived;  that  it  has  not  been 
fufliciently  confidered  by  men  of  underftanding. 
Let  it,  therefore,  be  permitted  me  to  confider  it  at 
prefent. 

I  will  not  go  into  a  detail  of  the  advantages  which 
the  United  States  muft  reap  from  the  revolution, 
which  alTures  them  liberty.  I  will  not  fpeak  of  that 
regeneration  of  the  phylical  and  moral  man,  which 
muft  be  an  infallible  confequcnce  of  their  conftitu- 

tions ; 


I  i 


■  »'j 


ra 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

tions;  of  that  perfection  to  which  free  America,  left 
to  its  energy,  wirhout  other  bounds  but  its  own  fa- 
culties, muft  one  day  carry  thfi  arts  and  fciences. 
America  enjoys  already  the  right  of  free  debate,  and 
it  cannot  be  too  often  repeated,  tliat  without  this  de- 
bate, perfection  is  but  a  mere  chimera.  In  truth, 
almoft  every  thing  is  yet  to  be  done  in  thf  fJnited 
States,  but  almoft  every  thing  is  there  underftood: 
the  general  good  is  the  common  end  of  every  indi- 
vidual,-—this  end  cheriflied,  implanted,  fo  to  fpeak, 
by  the  conftitution  in  every  heart.  With  this  end, 
this  intelligence,  and  this  liberty,  the  greateft  mira- 
cles muft  be  performed. 

I  will  not  fpeak  of  the  advantages  which  all  Ame- 
rica muft  one  day  reap  from  this  revolution;  nor  of 
the  impoffibility  that  abfurd  defpotifm  Ihould  reign 
for  a  long  time  in  the  neighbourhood  of  liberty.-— 
I  will  confine  myfelf  to  the  examination  of  what 
advantages  Europe,  and  France  in  particular,  may 
draw  from  this  change.  There  are  two  which  are 
particularly  ftriking:  the  firft,  and  c;reateft  of  the 
revolution,  ?X  leaft  in  the  eyes  cf  philofophy,  is  that 
of  its  falutary  influence  on  human  knowledge,  and 
on  the  reform  of  local  prejudices;  for  this  war  has 
occaiioned  difcullions  important  to  public  happi- 
nefs, — the  difcufiion  of  the  fecial  compaCt, — of 
civil  liberty, — of  the  means  which  can  render  a  peo- 
ple independent,  of  the  circumftances  which  give 
fanCtion  to  its  infurreCtion,  and  make  it  legal, — and 
which  give  this  people  a  place  among  the  powers  of 
the  earth. 

Wliat  good  has  not  refulted  from  the  repeated  de- 
fcriprion  of  ti:e  Englifli  conftitution,  and  of  its  ef- 
fects ?  What  good  has  not  refulted  from  the  codes 
of  MafHichufetts  and  New-York,  publillied  and 
fpread  evrry  where?  And  what  benefits  will  they 
ftill  produce?  They  will  not  be  wholly  taken  for 
a  model  J  b'M  defpotifm  will  pay  a  greater  rcfpeCl, 

either 


n erica,  left 
its  own  fa- 
d  Sciences, 
ebate,  and 
ut  this  de- 
In  truth, 
h?  United 
iderftood : 
very  indi- 
to  fpeak, 
this  end, 
teft  mira- 

all  Amp- 
^'f  nor  of 
"Id  reign 
iberty.-^ 

of  what 
lar,  may 
hich  are 
^  of  the 
y,  is  that 
%e,  and     * 

war  has 
-  happi- 
aa,-~of 
^r  a  peo- 
ich  give 
I, — and 
►vvers  of 

ited  de- 
f  its  ef. 
e  codes 
sd  and 
II  they 
ten  fcr 
efpe<51-, 
either 


INTRODUCTION.  ^ 

ither  from  neceflity  or  reafon,  to  the  rights  of  men, 
hich  are  fo  well  known  and  eftibliflied.  Enlight- 
ened by  this  revolution,  the  governments  of  Europe 
will  be  infenfibly  obliged  to  reform  their  abufes,  and 
to  diminifii  their  burdens,  in  the  jull  apprehenfion 
that  their  fubjecl^s,  tired  oJF  bearing  the  weight,  will 
take  refuge  in  the  afylum  offered  to  them  by  the 
United  States. 

This  revolution,  favourable  to  the  people,  which 
h  preparing  in  the  cabinets  of  Europe,  will  be  un- 
doubtedly accelerated,  by  that  which  its  commerce 
will  experience,  and  which  we  owe  to  the  cnfran- 
chifement  of  America.  The  war  which  procured  if 
to  her,  has  made  known  the  influence  of  commerce 
on  power,  the  neceflity  of  public  credit,  and  confe- 
quenrly  of  public  virtue,  without  which  it  cannot 
long  fubfiil: — What  raifed  the  Englifli  to  that  height 
of  power,  from  whence,  in  fpite  of  the  faults  of  their 
Minifters,  Generals,  and  Ncgociators,  they  braved, 
for  fo  many  years,  the  force  of  the  mofl:  powerful 
nations?  Their  commerce,  and  their  credit;  which, 
loaded  as  they  were  with  an  enormous  debt,  put 
thcni  in  a  ftate  to  ufe  all  the  efforts  which  nations, 
the  mofl  rich  by  their  foil  and  population,  could  not 
have  done  in  a  like  cafe. 

Thefe  are  the  advantages  which  France,  the  world, 
and  humanity,  owe  to  the  Am.erican  Revolution  ; 
and  when  we  confider  them,  and  add  thofe  we  are 
obliged  to  let  remain  in  obfcurity,  we  are  far  from 
regretting  the  expences  they  occafioned  us. 

Were  any  thing  to  be  regretted,  ought  not  it  to 
vaniili  at  the  appearance  of  the  new  and  immenfe 
commerce  which  this  revolution  opensto  the  French? 
This  is  the  moft  important  point  at  prefent  for  us,— 
that  on  which  we  have  the  leaft  information,  which 
confequently  makes  it  more  necefTary  to  gain  all  we. 
can  upon  the  lubje<5t;  and  fuch  is  the  object  of  this, 
work. 


10 


INTRODUCTION. 


m 


In  what  more  favourable  moment  could  it  appeal^ 
when  every  nation  is  in  a  jerment  to  extend  its  com- 
merce, feeks  new  information  and  Aire  principles? 
The  mind  is  inceflantly  recalled  in  tliis  book  to  the 
Kafure  of  things^  the  firfl  principle  of  commerce, — 
At  a  time  when  people,  which  an  ancient  rivality,. 
an  antipathy,  fo  falftly  and  unha:f>pily  called,  natu- 
ral, kept  at  a  diftance  one  from  the  other.,  are  ii> 
dined  to  approach  each  other,  and  to  extinguiflied 
in  the  connexions  of  commerce  the  fire  of  difcord;, 
this  work  ffiews  that  thefe  rivalities  mufl.  be  effaced 
by  the  immenfity  of  the  career  which  is  opened  to 
ail. — At  a  time  when  all  the  parts  of»  univerfal  j)ol?' 
cy  are  enlightened  by  the  flambeau,  of  philofophy, 
even  in  governments  whicbhave  hit^ierto  profefl'ed 
to  be  afraid  of  it,  the  author  of  this  work  has  let  flip 
n&  opportunity  of  attacking  falfs  nations  and  abufes 
of  every  kind. 

Never  was  there  a  moment  more  favourable  for 
publifliing  ufeful  truths.  Every  nation,  does  not 
only  do  homage  to  commerce,  as  to  the  vivifying 
fpirit  of  fockty  '^  but  they  employ,  in  the  examina- 
tion of  all  thcfc  cocnexions  and  acuities,  that  lo- 
gic of  fafls,  whofe  ufe  charaflerizes  the  end  of  the 
prefent  century, — that  art  truly  philofophical,  of 
confKlering  objects  in  their  nature,  and  in  their  ne- 
ceflary  confequences: — Never  had  well  informed 
men  more  contempt  for  thofc  chimerical  fyftems 
folely  founded  upon  the  fancies  of  pride,  upon  the 
little  conceptions  of  vanity,  and  upon  the  prcfump- 
tion  of  the  falfe  political  fcience,  which  has  too  long 
balanced  the  delliny  of  Slates.  Never  were  fo  many 
men  feen  united  by  the  fame  defirc  of  an  univerfai 
peace,  and  by  the  convidion  of  the  misfortune  and 
inutility  of  hateful  rivalities.  At  length  it  appears^ 
that  men  perceive  that  the  field  of  induflry  is  infi- 
nite; that  it  is  open  to  every  ftate,  whatever  may  be 
its  abfolute  or  relative  pofitions;  that  all  ftates  may 

thrive 


u\g 


umtec 
tendej 
—he 
by  thj 

whicl 
impoj 
beft 
know! 


IKTRODUCTION. 


St 


tiirive  in  it,  provided  that  in  each  of  theiii  the  fiip- 
port  of  individual  Hberty,  and  the  prefervation  of 
property,  be  the  principal  end  of  legation. 

This  work  ftill  concurs  with  the  patriotic  views 
which  the  fovereign  of  France  manifefts  at  prefent: 
he  meditates  important  reformations.  He  directs 
them  towards  the  hap|)inefs  of  the  people;  and  con« 
fults  the  mod  refpe(5table  members  of  this  people, 
whom  he  wilhes  to  render  liappy,  upon  the  means  of 
infuring  the  fuccefs  of  his  good  intentions.  There- 
fore, couW  there  be  a  more  propitious  moment  to 
offer  to  the  prefent  arbitrators  of  the  national  prof- 
pcrity,  a  work  written  with  deliberation,  on  th« 
means  of  eftablifhing  a  new  commerce  with  a  new 
people,  who  unites  to  an  extenfive  foil,  and  proper 
to  r-ourifli  an  immenfe  population,  laws  which  arc 
the  riioft  favourable  to  its  rapid  increafe? 

At  firii  I  had  alone  undertaken  this  work,  de- 
pending on  my  o^va  ilrength  and  laborious  refearch- 
es:  I  had  colleAed  all  the  fa6ts, — all  the  books, — 
all  the  proofs  which  could  be  certain  guides  to  my 
fleps;  but  I  foon  perceived  the  inipoHibility  of  raif- 
ing  upon  obje(5ls  of  commerce  a  folid  and  ufeful 
theory,  if  it  were  not  directed  by  the  (kill  which 
praiiice  only  can  give,  and  poffefTed  by  a  man 
whofe  judgment  had  been  long  exercifed  by  reflec- 
tion, and  whofe  decided  love  of  truth  and  the  public 
welfare  had  accuflomed  to  generalize  his  ideas.  I 
found  this  man,  this  co-operator,  of  whofe  affiflance 
I  flood  in  need,  in  a  republican;  to  whom  I  am 
united  by  a  fimilarity  of  ideas,  as  well  as  by  the  mofl 
tender  attachment.  I  have  permiflion  fco  name  him, 
— he  confe«ts  to  it:  I  have  conquered  his  modiefty 
by  the  coiifid-eration  of  his  interefl:,  and  of  the  la^v 
which  the  particular  circumflances  of  his  fituation 
impofes  on  him:  I  have  perfuaded  him,  that  the 
beft  means  of  dcllroying  calumny  was  to  make 
known  hisprinciples  and  opinions  on  public  matters. 

It 


''  :m 


•  :'i 


\V. 


it 


V2 


IMRODUCTIO'N. 


'.J"  i« 


,    ■f 


Y^     li- 


lt is  M.  Claviere,  a  Genevefc,  exiled  without  any 
form  from  his  country,  by  the  military  ariftocracy  ; 
which  has  fubftituted  its  illegal  and  deftru£tive  re- 
gimen to  the  reafonable  and  legitimate  influence  of 
a  people,  diftinguiflied  by  their  natural  good  under- 
ftanding,  their  knowledge,  and  their  more  (imple 
manners.  What  was  his  crime  ?  That  of  having 
defended  the  rights  of  thefe  people,  with  a  firmnefs 
and  ability,  which  the  implacable  hatred  of  his  ene- 
mies atteft !  This  part  does  too  much  honour  to 
my  friend,  not  to  confine  myfelf  to  defcribe  him  in 
this  character,  the  only  one  which  has  ever  been 
produ(fiive  of  public  good. 

M.  Claviere  has,  during  his  abode  in  France, 
given  proofs  of  his  knowledge  in  the  philofophical 
and  political  part  of  commerce.  It  is  to  his  abode 
among  us  that  the  public  is  indebted  for  fome  ufeful 
works  on  thefe  abfl;ra<ft  matters ;  works,  as  remark- 
able for  their  folidity  of  principle  and  truth  of  dif- 
cuffion,  as  for  the  clearnefs  and  precifion  of  ideas ; 
wrrkb,  whofe  fuccefs  proves  that  minds  may  be  led 
t  the  contemplation  of  thefe  matters,  by  fubflitut- 
ing  an  exa<ft  and  clear  analyfis  to  the  metaphyfical 
and  obfcure  jargon  which  retrained  them  from  it. 

Finally,  the  prefent  work  will  prove  at  once  the 
extent  of  his  knowledge,  and  that  of  the  fincerc 
philanthropy  which  animates  him,  even  for  the  good 
of  a  country,  where  a  man  lefs  generous  would  fee 
nothing,  perhaps,  but  the  origin  and  caufi  of  his 
misfortunes.  Oh !  how  happy  am  I,  to  have  it  in 
my  power  to  defend  my  friend  againft  cowardly  ca- 
lumniators, in  putting  him  under  the  fafeguard  of 
his  own  talents  and  virtues!  And  is  it  not  a  facred 
<iuty  for  me,  as  the  calumny  is  public,  to  publifh 
the  part  he  has  taken  in  this  work,  wherein  it  is  im- 
poffible  not  to  difcover  the  hqneft  man,  in  the  man 
enlightened  ?  the  friend  of  mankind,  in  the  propa- 
gation of  the  wifcft  maxims  ?     In  the  thinking  phi- 

lofopher, 


IHTROOUCTION.  ^5 

foibper,  accuftomed  to  a  Icvcre  logic,  to  piirfue 
the  intercfts  of  public  good,  whenever  the  light  of 
truth  can  clear  up  fome  of  its  afpefts  ^  This  is  not 
a  vague  eulogium  ;  people  will  be  convinced  of  it 
in  reading  the  two  chapters  which  concern  the  prin- 
ciples of  commerce  ;  a  great  number  of  notes  lit 
wnich  he  has  had  a  part,  and  efpeciaUy  the  article 
of  tobacco,  which  is  entirely  his  own.  In  general, 
lie  will  be  known  in  thofe  new  coniiderations  which 
the  commercial  man  of  refle(flion  only  can  fuggell 
to  the  philofophical  politician. 

The  fame  motive  has  guided  us  both  in  the  corn- 
portion  and  publication  of  this  wor-k.  It  was  the 
dedre  of  being  ufeful  to  France,  to  Free  America, 
to  Humanity ;  fornothing  whxh  paiTes  in  the  United 
States,  neither  ought  to,  nor  can  in  future,  be  in- 
«iiifereat  to  humanity.  America  has  revenged  it  by 
her  revolution:  (he  ought  to  enlighten  it  by  her  le- 
giflation,  and  become  a  perpetual  lefTon  to  all  go- 
vcrnmenrs,  as  a  confolation  to  individuals. 

It  remains  to  me  now  to  fpeak  of  the  fources  to 
which  we  have  had  recourie,  in  the  order  of  this 
work,  &c.  &c. 

We  have  joined  the  information  of  intelligent  per* 
fons,  whofe  abode  in  Anienca  has  given  them  an 
opportunity  of  gaining  information,  to  that  with 
which  the  public  papers,  the  a£ts  of  Congrefs,  of 
different  legiflatures,  and  the  different  works  pub* 
liihed  in  the  United  States,  have  furnifhed  us.  There- 
fore credit  may  be  given  to  all  the  fa^s  which  we 
advance. 

In  affociating  our  ideas,  we  have  ftriven  to  give 
them  an  uniformity:  we  have,  above  every  thing, 
endeavoured  to  exprefs  them  v/'iUi  thav  clearnefs 
which  is  fo  difficult  to  introduce  into  matters  of  com- 
merce and  finance.  The  poverty  of  our  language, 
and  the  (ingularity  of  new  circumftances  which  wc 
had  to  defcribe,  has  fometimes  led  us  to  what  is  calle4 

C  neology. 


V 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


neology.  We  miift  create  what  we  have  not,  and 
of  which  we  ftaud  ir^  need,  without  giving  ourfclves 
any  trouble  about  thofc  grammarians,  but  triflingly 
philofophical,  whom  Cicero  defcribcs  thus  in  his 
time :  Controverjies  about  ivords  torment  thej'e  little  Greeks^ 
more  tlrfirous  of  contention  than  of  trtith.^ 

We  have  carefully  avoided  certain  words  much 
ufed  in  vulgar  politics,  and  which  give  and  perpe- 
tuate falfe  ideas  and  deceitful  fyftems.  Such  are 
thefe  exprelfions ;  foivers  fiH  the  firfi  chara^er^  have 
thefirfl  tank,  the  balance  of  tratle,  the  political  balance 
cf  Europe,  &c.  Thefe  words,  which  ftir  up  hatred 
an:',  jcaloufy,  are  only  proper  to  feed  petulant  am- 
bition, and,  if  I  may  ufe  the  expreflion,  to  put  the 
policy  of  difiurbance  in  the  place  of  that  happinefs. 
Minifters,  wearied  of  thefe  words  and  ideas,  will  at- 
tach a  greater  price  to  real  glory, — that  of  making 
the  people  happy. 

Many  notes  will  be  found  in  this  work;  we  thought 
2t  neceflary  to  give  this  form  to  all  tHe  ideas,  which, 
thrown  into  the  text,  mi^ht  have  obffeured  the  prin- 
cipal one. 

A  note  relaxes  the  mind,  infufpcnding  the  chain 
of  the  principal  thoughts;  it  excites  curiofity,  in 
announcing  a  new  point  of  view;;  it  forces  the  reader 
to  a  certain  degree  of  attention,  in  obliging  him  to 
attach  the  note  to  the  text,  Xo  reap  an)  advantage 
from  his  reading. 

We  have  in  thefe  notes  indicaterl,  as  often  as  rt 
has  been  poflible,  the  ideas  of  reform  which  may  be 
ufeful  to  France.  We  have  frequently  quoted  the 
Englifli  nation  and  government.  Let  not  our  read- 
ers be  furprifed  at  k.  It  is  tWs  nation  which  has 
made  moil  progref$  in  the  practice  of  fome  good 
principles  of  political  economy.  To  what  nation 
in  Europe  can  we  better  compare  France?     if  a  ri- 

valitv 

0 

*  Vcrbi  controvcrfia  torquet  Graeculoi  homines  contcatiouii 
cupidiercs  c;u«m  veritatist 


INTRODUCTION.  ij 

vality  ought  to  cxift  between  them,  is  it  not  in  that 
which  is  good?  Ought  not  we  from  that  moment 
to  know  ail  the  good  meafures  taken  in  England? 
Ought  people  to  be  difpieafed  with  us  for  mentioning 
theie  meafures?  The  example  of  thofc  who  have 
already  quoted  England  has  encouraged  us.  They 
have  naturalized  in  France,  happy  inftitutions,  imi- 
tated from  her  rival. 

If  our  critic ifm  appears  fometimes  roughly  cx- 
prefTed,  our  readers  will  be  fo  good  as  to  conlider, 
that  friends  to  public  welfare  can  but  witli  dilficulty 
refrain  from  being  moved  by  the  afpe(ft  of  certain 
abufes,  and  from  futlering  thefentimcnt  of  indigna- 
tion which  it  excites  in  them  to  break  forth. 

Notwithftanding  the  numerous  precautions  we 
have  taken  to  come  at  truth;  notwithflanding  the 
extreme  attention  we  have  given  to  this  work,  errors 
will  undoubtedly  be  found  mfomeof  the  llatementS| 
and  perhaps  in  the  reasonings.  Whether  they  be 
publicly  difcuflcd,  9r  that  we  are  privately  inform- 
ed of  them,  we  (hall  fee  thefe  refutations  with  plea- 
fure;  wc  (hall  joyfully  receive  theie  obfervations^ 
and  if  they  be  well  founded,  we  fliall  be  eager  to  re- 
train. This  is  but  a  (imple  elTay  on  an  important 
fubje6l.  It  may  become  a  good  work  by  the  aid  <rf 
a  concourfe  of  lights. 

Paris,  April  i,  1787. 


Tf 


nT 


C  2 


TKl 


ae 


TH^ 


COMMERCE,  ^c. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Of  External  Commerce;  the  circumfiancei  itihich  lead  /• 
/■/,  and  the  Means  of  ajfuring  it  to  a  Nation* 


c 


lOMMERCE  lignifies  an  exchange  of  produc- 
tions, either  by  barter,  or  by  reprefentative  ligns  of 
their  value. 

External  commerce  Is  that  carried  on  between  two 
or  more  nations.  It  fuppofes  in  them  mutual  wants, 
and  a  furplus  of  produi^ions  correfpondent  thereto. 

Nations,  which  nature  or  the  force  of  things  in- 
vites to  a  commercial  intercourfe,  are  thofe  which 
have  that  correfpondence  of  wants,  and  furplus  of 
productions. 

This  familiarity  enables  them  to  trade  together, 
dlretftly  or  indirectly;  a  direct  commerce  is  that  which 
exifts  between  two  nations,  without  the  intervention 
of  a  third. 

Commerce  is  indirect  'when  one  nation  trades  with 
another  by  way  of  a  third.  This  is  the  cafe  of  ftates 
which  have  no  fea-ports,  and  yet  wifli  to  exchange 
their  productions  for  thofe  of  the  Indies. 

That  nation,  which  having  it  in  its  power  to  carry 
on  a  direct  commerce  with  another,  yet  makes  ufe 
of  an  intermediate  one,  is  necclTarily  oblip^cd  to  di- 

C  ^  vide 


I 


■  i  v\ 


m 


i8 


ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


vide  its  profits.     However,  this  difadvantagc  may 
fometimes  be  compenfated  by  other  confiderations. 

Such,  for  inflance,  is  the  cafe  of  a  nation  which, 
in  want  of  huibandmen  and  manufacturers,  prefers 
that  ftrangers  fhould  themfelves  come  in  fearch  of  its 
fuperHuities,  and  bring  in  exchange  thofe  of  others : 
its  want  of  population  impofes  this  law,  and  whilft 
thefe  confiderations  exift,  it  is  both  morally  and  phy- 
iically  better  that  its  inhabitants  fhould  be  employed 
in  cultivation,  than  become  carriers  of  their  own 
national  produflions,  or  of  thofe  of  others. 

It  is  impolTible  that  nations  which  already  have 
communications  with  each  other,  fhould  be  ignorant 
of  their  mutual  productions.  Hence arifes  the  defirc 
of  acquiring  them  in  thole  where  they  do'not  exift. 
Hence  dire5  or  indirect  commerce,  which  is  confe- 
quently  the  inevitable  refult  of  the  ftate  of  things. 

From  the  fame  principle,  it  is  the  intereft  of  each 
nation  to  render  its  exterior  commerce  dire£t  as  foon 
as  pofTible,  without  doing  an  injury  to  its  interior 
trade. 

Direct  importations,  not  being  fubjeCt  to  the  ex- 
pences  and  commiflions  of  agents,  procure  things  at 
a  cheaper  rate. 

A  moderate  price  is  the  fureft  means  of  obtaining 
a»  exterior  commerce,  the  beft  reafonfor  preference, 
and  the  guarantee  of  its  continuation.* 

The 


*  It  is  vulgarly  fald  that  a  thing  is  dear  whf  n  once  it  is  above 
the  accuilomed  price  }  and  it  is  eilcemcd  cheap  the  moment  that 
price  is  diminifhed. 

By  this  it  fcems  that  the  dearnefs  of  a  thing -is  the  compari- 
fon  of  its  dared,  with  its  ufuai  price.  The  laft  is  determined 
by  five  principal  circumftances.  lit.  The  coft  of  the  raw  ma- 
teral.  ad.  That  of  the  workrnanftip.  3d.  The  want  the  cun- 
fumer  has  of  the  thing.  4th.  The  means  he  has  of  paying  for 
it.  fiiht  The  proportion  of  its  quantity  with  the  demand  there 
is  for  it.  Thefe  circumftances  increafe  or  dimini/b  the  profit 
of  the  feller;  fometimes  Indeed  they  may  prevent  him  from  gain- 
t»g  at  ali«i    Circumdancci  wbicbi  influence  ihc  moft  aie  fcascitj 


w 


^ 


UNITED  STATES  Ot  AMERICA. 


«? 


The  country  which  can  produce  and  fell  a  thing 
at  the  cheapeft  rate,  is  that  which  unites  the  favour- 
able advantages  of  that  produ6^ion,  whether  it  be 
with  refpe£):  to  its  quality,  manufa^ure,  or  its  low 
rate  of  carrisige. 

The  advantages,  which  render  commodities  and 
raw  materials  cheap,  are  a  fertile  foil,  eafy  of  culti- 
vation, climate  favourable  to  the  production,  a  go- 
vernment which  encourages  induftry,  and  facili- 
tates carriage  by  the  conftruAioh  of  public  roads  and 
navigable  canals;  finally,  a  population  not  too  nu* 
merous  relative  to  the  -xtent  of  country  which  of- 
fers itfelf  to  be  cultivated.* 

The  fame  circumftances  are  ftill  more  favourable 
to  the  manufa<5ture  of  things  common,  fimple,  or 
little  charged  with  fafhion,  if  the  raw  material  be  a 
natural  production  of  the  country,  in  plenty,  and 
eafy  to  be  worked  up;  becaufe  thefe  manufactures 
require  but  few  hands,  or  are  carried  on  at  that  lei- 

fure 

tinA  abundance,  expreHionB  by  which  the  proportion  between  the 
want  and  the  quantity  of  produAtons  are  Jefignated* 

If  there  be  a  iurplus  of  them,  they  are  naturally  foil  at  a  tow 
price.  Whence  it  appears,  that  nations  having  great  quantities 
of  raw  materials,  various  manufaflures  and  a  numerous  popu- 
lation, are  more  particularly  invited  to  an  exterior  and  continued 
commerce,  becaufe  they  have  it  in  their  power  to  carry  it  oqr 
upon  better  terras. 

An  article  may  be  fold  at  a  low  price,  and  enrich  him  who 
furnlfhes  it;  as  it  may  be  fold  dear,  and  ruin  the  feller.  This 
depends  upon  the  relation  there  is  between  its  value  and  the 
means  of  its  productions.  Every  nation  difpofed  to  exterior 
commerce,  in  whatfoever  article  it  may  be,  ought  therefore  to 
confider  two  things,  the  price  at  which  it  can  afford  fuch  an  ar- 
ticle, and  that  at  which  it  is  fold  by  rival  nations :  if  it  cannoC 
equal  the  lad,  it  ought  to  abandon  that  part  of  its  trade. 

•  The  fituation  of  the  Unite  d  States  proves  the  laft  aifertion, 
which  may  at  firft  light  appear  paradoxical;  things  are  cheap 
there,  becaufe  population  is  not  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of 
lands  to  be  cultivated.  In  a  good  foil,  a  man  may,  by  his  la* 
hour,  eafily  fuppty  the  confumption  of  ten  men,  or  even  more. 
Thefe  ten  mtn  may  therefore  be  employed  for  exterior  confucip- 
tioa. 


¥. 


I   1  i 


ftO 


ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


fvire  which  agriculture  affords.  Nothing  can  equal 
the  cheapncfs  of  this  .vrorkmanfliip,  and  in  general 
no  induftry  is  more  lucrative,  or  better  fupported  on 
cafy  terms,  than  that  which  is  employed  in  the  in- 
tervals of  repofe  from  cultivation :  in  that  cafe  cheap- 
nefs  is  neither  the  product  nor  the  fign  of  mifery  in 
the  manufa6turer;  it  is,  on  the  contrary,  the  proof 
and  confequcnce  of  his  eafy  circumftancea.* 

The  moft  neceflary  conditions  for  manufacturing, 
at  a  cheap  rate,  articles  complicated,  or  extremely 
fine  and  perfe^,  or  which  require  the  union  of  fcve- 
ral  kinds  of  workmanfliip,  are  a  conflant  and  aiiidu- 
ous  application,  and  a  numerous  population  ;  one 
half  of  which  muft  be  at  a  diftance  from  the  labours 
of  the  field,  and  applied  to  manufacture  alone. 

Thefe  manufactures  ought,  according  to  natural 
order,  to  be  the  productions  of  an  exceu  of  popula- 
tion only,  which  cannot  give  its  induftry  to  agricul- 
ture or  fimple  manufactures;  but  in  general  they  are 
the  refult  of  the  gathering  together  of  the  poor  and 
wretched  in  great  cities.f 

Thefe 

•  Switzer1an<J,  and  certain  parts  of  Germany,  offer  a  ftrJking 
eifample  of  thi^  fa£t.  Merchandife  is  fabricaced  there,  at  a 
Idwer  rate  than  In  any  other  country  of  £urop(>,  by  means  of  this 
erhployment  of  lelfure  hours,  ar.d  is  capable  of  being  tianf- 
ported  to  dlftant  courrtries,  without  lofuig  its  original  advantage  ; 
even  acrofo  great  ftates,  where  nature,  left  to  her  own  energy, 
would  be  ft'ilT  more  favourable  to  the  fame  nianufa^ures. 

f  The{e  manufa£tures  are  crouded  with  individuals^  who 
having  no  property,  or  hope  of  conftant  employ  in  the  country, 
or  who  are  induced  by  the  allurements  of  gain  and  luxury,  run 
into  cities,  and  foon  become  obliged  to  fell  their  Induftry  at  a 
mean  price,  proportioned  to  the  number  of  thofe  who  are  in 
want  of  employ.  When  cheapncfs  of  w^ikmanfljip  comes  from 
this  affli^ing  concurrence  of  the  want  of  moniy  in  men  without 
employ,  It  is  not  a  fign  of  profperity.  On  the  contiary,  it  is  the 
refult  and  proof  of  a  bad  fecial  organization,  of  too  une<|[ual  a 
divifion  of  property,  and  confcquently  of  an  unjufl  diftr'ibution 
of  neceflary  employments,  which  compels  induftry  to  change, 
from  the  fabrication  of  what  is  receffary  and  ufeful,  to  that 
which  is  fantaflic,  forced,  ind  peraicious.    Hence  It  follows, 


ITNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


II 


Thefe  manufactures  cannot  furniili  their  prod\ic- 
tions  but  with  difficulty  and  uncertainty  for  exterior 
commerce,  when  they  are  eftabliflied  and  fupported 
merely  by  forced  meaiis,  fuch  as  prohibitions,  ex- 
clufive  privileges,  &c.  by  which  natural  obftaclcs, 
not  to  be  deftroyed,  are  pretended  to  be  combated. 
Countries  exempt  from  them  prevail  in  the  end,  and 
obtain  a  preference. 

It  fometimes  happens,  that  obftacles  caufed  to 
manufactures  by  dearnefs  of  proviftons,  burthenfomc 
imports,  diitance  from  the  raw  material,  and  un- 
fkiifulnefs,  or  fmall  number  of  hands,  are  furmounted 
by  ingenuity,  or  the  ufc  of  machines;  which  make 
the  work  o^  one  man  equal  to  that  of  many,  and 
render  a  manufafture  capable  of  fupporting  the  cora- 
merce  of  populous  countries,  where  fuch  manoeu- 
vres and  machines  are  not  made  ufe  of,  or  known. 

But  thefe  means  are  precarious,  and  fooner  or  later 
give  way  to  a  more  happy  fituation,  where  climate, 
foil,  and  government  efpecially,  concur  in  favouring, 
-without  effort,  all  the  activity  and  induftry  of  whicli 
men  are  fufccptiblc.* 

Thus, 

that  wretchedness  in  any  country  is  in  proportion  to  tkis  cheap* 
Aefs  of  workmanfhip. 

It  is  equally  evident  from  thefe  reafonlngs,  that  new  and  well 
conftituted  ftates  ought  nofto  defire  manufactures  produced  by 
things  (o  badly  arranged :  they  ought  not  to  be  anxious  about 
them  till  the  rate  of  popu'at'on  and  excefs  of  ufeful  labour  na- 
turally incline  induftry  to  apply  itfelf  to  improve  and  carry  them 
on.  Thefe  reafonings  againft  low  priced  workmanfhip  do  not 
kinder  us  from  agrecing,thatthere  is  a  real  advantage  in  the  meant 
of  exterior  commerce)  and  that  in  the  a£lual  ftate  of  things 
manufaAuring  and  commercial  nations  may  perhaps  be  obliged 
to  feek  for  it,  although  it  docs  not  compenf^te  the  interior  evil 
by  which  it  is  produced. 

*  Favovriko,  in  political  economy,  fignifice,  for  the  moft 
fart,  not  to  ihackle  induftry  with  too  many  regulations}  how- 
ever favourable  certain  of  thefe  may  be,  they  reftrain  it  in  fume 
refpe6t  or  othert  Trade  Is  never  better  encouraged  than  wbta 
ieft  to  itfelf. 


!  <\ 


»     ! 


srz 


ON   THE  COMMEKCB  OF  TB* 


Thus,  in  the  final  analyfis,  the  power  of  furnifti- 
ing  at  a  low  price  belongs  inconteftably  to  countries 
fo  favoured,  and  they  will  obtain  in  all  markets  a 
fure  preference  to  thofc  to  which  nature  has  been 
lefs  kind,  let  their  induflry  be  ever  fo  great,  bccaufc 
(he  fame  induitry  may  always  be  added  to  natural  ■ 
advantages. 

Exterior  commerce,  more  than  any  other,  is  in- 
timidated by  lliackles,  cuftoms,  vifits,  chicaneries, 
and  ])rocefIes;  by  the  manner  of  deciding  them,  and  ^ 
the  folicitations  and  delays  they  bring  on. 

The  ftate  which  would  favour  fuch  a  commerce  - 
fiiould,  in  the  firft  place,  deftroy  all  theie  obltacles. 
M  is  more  to  its  intercfl  fo  to  do,  as  from  exterior 
commerce  refults  an  augnyentation  af  the  national 
revenue.  ' 

All  things  equal,  relative  to  the  piioe  of  mcrchan- 
dife,  and  to  the  facilities  with  which  direct  exterior 
commerce  can  be  carried  on,  it  is  more  readily  cfta- 
blifhed  between  two  nations  which.  ha:yc  afimilarity 
of  political  and  religious  principles,!  manners,  cuf- 
toms, and  efpecially  of  language:  thefe  decifive 
iTieaos  of  connexion  cannot  be  combated  but  by 
evident  advantages  from  which  there  refults  lefs  cx- 
pence  and  more  profit.  Commercial  people  gene- 
rally place  profit  at  the  head  of  every  thing. 

Nations  not  having  thefe  affinities  between  them, 
ought,  in  order  to  compenfate  for  their  deficiency, 
to  give  great  cacouragementSj  and  tolerate  to   the 

utmoft 

'  -f  Religious  confiderations  had  formerly  a  confiderable  influ- 
ence en  civilized  men,  and  on  commerce.  The  Catholic  fled 
from  the  Pioteftant,  the  Puritan  fufpe<£i«d  the  C^ualcer.  A  re- 
eiprocal  hatred  reigned  between  the  Icdls,  To-day,  mankind 
being  "lorcenlighteaed,  •"UfCsSs  connefted  by  commerce,  and 
experience  having  (hewn  that  probity  has  almoft  always  been 
independent  of  religion,  it  is  no  more  required  to  know  whe- 
ther a  min  goes  to  the  ten»ple,  or  to  confeflion— It  is  a/ked  IT 
he  Fulfils  hi3  engagements  with  honour.  Yet  this  relation  muit 
AIU  be  counted  among  commsrciai  connexions. 


UKITED  STATES  ©*  AMERICA.  -^ 

utmoft  degree  the  religious  and  political  opinions  of 
Itrangers,  as  well  as  their  manners  and  cuftoms. 

To  obtain  the  preference  in  exterior  comnjerce, 
neither  treaties,  regulations,  nor  force  muft  be  de- 
pended upon.  Force  has  but  a  momentary  effect. 
It  deftroys  even  that  which  it  means  to  protect. 
Treaties  and  regulations  are  ufelefs  if  the  intcrefts 
of  two  nations  do  not  invite  them  to  a  mutual  in- 
tercourfe.  They  are  ineffeftual  if  that  attradion 
does  not  cxift.  Treaties,  regulations,  force,  all  yield 
to  the  impulfc  or  nature  of  things.* 

This  force  of  things  in  commerce  is  but  the  refuk 
of  the  circumitances  in  which  two  nations  are  which 
nttraft  jine  towards  the  other,  and  oblige  them  tct 
I'ntcr  into  an  alliance,  rather  than  with  any  other 
nation.  Thefe  terminate  in  their  mutual  intereft.: 
it  is  therefore  neceflary,  in  order  to  create  a  perpetual 
commerce  between  two  countries,  to  give  each  of 
them  a  preponderating  interell  fo  to  do. 


CHAPTER 


:d 


•  FoRc«  OF  THINGS.  Thc  poi'itlcallaw  which  govcms  all, 
in  politics  as  in  phyfics.  There  ii  a  general  force  whofc  aAlon 
is  man} fed,  which,  in  fplte  of  war?,  treaties,  and  th«  manoeu- 
vres of  c&binets,  govsrns  all  events,  and  carries  away  men  and 
nations  in  its  courfc,  Jt  is  this  force  of  tilings  which  overturn- 
ed theRoman  empire,  when  itftood  upon  a  bafli  difproportioned 
to  its  mafs;  which  in  the  14th  century  took  from  the  Englifh 
one  half  of  France,  and  in  the  18th,  has  taken  from  them  half' 
r*f  the  ne*'  world — which  delivered  Holland  from  the  yoke  of 
Spain,  and  Sweden  from  that  of  Denmark.  It  is  this  force 
\v%'ich  deftroyed  the  prcjefts  of  fuch  conquerors  as  Charlemagne^ 
Zsngis.  and  Nadir.  Th*y  ran  from  place  to  place ;  they  de- 
flroyed  mankind  to  build  empires.  Thefe  empires  died  with 
them.  This  force  afts  upon  commeree  as  upon  revolutions*  It 
is  that  which,  by  the  difcovery  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  bc- 
Titaved  the  Venetians  of  their  trade  to  the  Indies,  and  made  it 
pafs  over  fiicceiTively  to  the  Portugucfe,  the  Dutch,  thetnglHh, 
and  the  French.  Finally,  it  is  the  force  of  things  which  will 
decide  the  great  (jueflion  of  the  cummerc?  of  America. 


M 


aV  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  II. 

<y  External  Commtice^  conjidered  in  its  Means  of  Em* 
change^  and  its  Balance, 

W  E  arc  deceived  in  believing  that  commerce 
cannot  be  eftabllihed  between  two  nations  without 
gold  or  filver  to  balance  their  accounts.  It  will  be 
intereding  to  enter  into  feme  detail  on  this  head,  on 
account  of  the  deficiency  of  coin  in  theUnitedStates, 
and.thejieceffity  of  reducing  themfelvcs  to  tbecom- 
merce  of  exchange,  being  the  two  principji^objec- 
tions  ignorantly  brought  againft  a  trade  with  them.* 
It  has  been  frequently  aSerted  that  the  balance  will 
be  againft  them;  that  they  can  only  offer  an  exchange 
in  merchandifc.  It  is  therefore  necelTary  to  prove 
that  this  great  word,  balance,  is  iniignificant ;  that 

a  great 

'*  The  fcarcity  of  money  tn  the  United  States  of  America 
has  been  greatly  exaggerated  in  France.  Ir  muft  be  fcarce  in  all 
new  ftates,''  where  nothing  fhacklts  induftry,  where  fo  many 
{kings  are  to  be  created,  and  where,  in  every  quarter,  there  are 
fuch  quantities  of  lands  to  be  cleared.  In  order  that  money 
ihould  be  plenty  in  this  (late  of  creation,  mines  would  be  necef- 
iary;  and  at  the  fame  timea  wantof  1iands,and  induftry  clogged 
with  impediments,  circumftances  much  more  unfavourable  to 
foreign. commerce  than  the  fcarcity  of  money  in  an  adive  and 
indu^rious  country.  ^One  fad  feems  to  prove  to  us,  that  in  in- 
dependent America  money  is  found  in  the  moft  defirable  prO' 
portion  to  population,  at  leaft  by  taking  Europe  for  the  term  of 
comparifon.  Contracts  efleemed  good,  and  of  which  the  \n» 
tereft  is  regularly, paid,  are  fold  there  at  the  rate  of  fix  percent, 
per  annum*  Yet  the  clearing  of  lands  muft  produce  a  much 
greater  ben(  fir ^  why  then  is  not  all  the  money  fwallowed  iip?  why 
remains thtie  enough  of  it  to  fulfil  thefe  contra£ii>,  Orhich  pro- 
duce no  more  than  five  or  fix  per  cent  ?  Is  it  not  becaufe  money 
:is  not  fo  fcarce  there  as  people  in  France  imagine,  where  the 
actual  ftate  of  the  Americans. is  confounded  with  the  diftrefs  in 
which  ihey  were  when  they  combated  for  their  liberty  ? 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  ft$ 

a  great  commerce  may  be  carried  on  without  money, 
and  that  one  of  exchange  is  the  moll  advantageous 
of  any. 

When  a  nation  pays  with  money  the  whole,  or  the 
balance  of  its  importations,  it  is  faid  the  balance  of 
trade  is  againft  it,  by  which  a  difadvantageous  idea 
of  its  poiition  is  meant  to  be  given.  This  is  a  pre* 
judice  eafy  to  be  overturned,  although  entertained 
by  men  celebrated  for  their  knowledge. 

In  effect,  whence  comes  to  this  country  the  gold 
It  pays?  It  is  either  from  it-  mines,  and  in  that  cafe 
it  pays  with  one  of  its  own  produ6tions;  or  it  owes 
it  to  artificers  who  exercife  their  fun6tions  in  a  fo- 
reign country,  and  even  then  it  pays  with  a  produc- 
tion which  originates  within  its  dominions.  As  long 
as  a  nation  pays  another,  direftly  or  indireftly,  with 
its  own  produ6lions,  its  pofition  cannot  be  difad- 
vantageous. Therefore,  the  unfavourable  word  ba- 
lance, thus  attached  to  the  balance  of  an  account 
paid  in  money,  offers  no  exa6t  and  nice  idea  of  the 
favourable  or  unfavourable  flate  of  a  nation. 

Gold  is  alfo  a  merchandife ;  and  it  may  be  con- 
venient to  one  nation,  according  to  its  relations  or 
connexions  with  another,  to  pay  with  money,  with- 
out its  having,  for  that  reafon,  an  unfavourable  ba- 
lance againft  it. 

There  is  but  one  cafe  wherein  the  balance  againft 
a  nation  can  be  declared;  it  is  that  when  having  ex- 
haufted  its  money  and  treafures,  it  remains  debtor  to 
another  nation.  But  things  could  net  remain  long 
in  this  ftate;  fo  wretched  a  foil,  unequal  to  tlie  con- 
fumption  and  exchange  of  its  inhabitants,  would 
foon  be  abandoned;  -..his,  however,  cannot  happen. 
Importation  prefently  becomes  in  proportion  to  ex- 
portation; an  equilibrium  is  eftablifheci,  and  the  pre- 
tended unfavourable  balance  has  not  di> ration  enough 
to -give  a  right  of  fuppofing  even  its  exiltence. 

There  is  as  little  truth  and  juftice  in  faying  a  na- 

O  ^    tioa 


I  ■' " '  I-' 


It 


U6  Oy  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

tioii  has  the  balance  of  trade  in  its  favour,  when  it 
receives  in  money  balances  due  to  it  upon  the  amount 
of  its  exportations.  This  balance,  exifting  for  a 
certain  time,  would  heap  up  fpecie  in  the  country, 
and  at  length  render  it  very  miferable.  This  has 
never  been  the  cafe;  yet  it  would  have  happened  if 
trhjs  fyflem  had  the  leaft  foundation. 

The  circulation  of  money  depends  on  too  many 
caufes,  to  deduce  from  its  abundance  a  certain  lign 
of  a  favourable  commercial  balance;  a  thoufand 
combinations  and  events,  which  have  no  relation  to 
that  balance,  draw  money  from  abroad  or  fend  it 
there;  and  in  general,  coiiiinuedand  various  motions 
nf  commerce,  the  tables  of  exportation  and  impor- 
tation, according  to  which  the  fign  of  a  favourable 
or  unfavourable  balance  is  regulated,  are  too  uncer- 
tain and  defe6tive  for  the  purpofe,  as  well  as  for  form- 
ing a  judgment  of  the  quantities  of  coin  or  riches 
.of  a  nation.* 

Let 

*  I  will  give  a  ftrlking  example  of  the  deficiency  of  thefe 
.calculations,  of  the  eftimatioii  of  a  balance  of  trade,  and  of  the 
quantity  of  money.  This  example  will  prove  that  political  cal- 
culators negleft,  or  are  ignorant  of  foreign  events  which  over- 
turn their  calculations. 

M.  Neckar  wifliec"  to  inform  himfclf  (Chap.  IX.  Vol.  3d, 
of  his  Treatife  on  the  Aflniiniftration  of  Finance)  what  was 
the  fum  brought  to  and  preferved  in  Europe  from  1763  to  I777» 
He  eftimates  it  at  one  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  millions 
of  livres,  according  to  the  regifler  of  Liiton  and  Cadiz,  com- 
prehending that  even  which  entered  by  contraband,  and  he  va- 
lues at  three  hundred  millions  of  livres  that  which  v/ent  out  of 
Jturope  during  the  fame  interval. 

It  will  qnij  be  recefTary  to  quote  two  or  three  authenticated 
fafts,  to  prove,  the  infufficiency  of  this  calculation  founded  upon 
the  regifters  of  Cuftom -houfcs. 

In  flating  the  fum  of  money  entered  into  Europe,  it  does 
not  appear  that  M.  Neclcar  takes  account  of  the  go!''  and  fil- 
ver,  which  the  conqucfl;  and  poffcATion  of  Bengal  by  the  Eng- 
li/h,  and  their  eftablifhments  in  the  Eaft-Indies,  have  caufed 
to  pafs  into  this  quarter  of  the  wotld.  But  according  to  the 
calculation  of  the  fecreC  committee,  appointed  by  the  P^rlia- 


UNITED  STATES  OP  AMEPtCA. 


27 


Let  the  tables  for  comparing  the  exportation  and 
importation  of  raw  materialo,  and  of  maniifafturecl 
articles,  beincreafed  to  what  they  may;  let  the  great- 

D  2  cil: 


ment  of  England,  to  examine  the  rtatc  of  Englifh  polTcfTions 
in  India,  the  fums  drawn  from  Bengal  from  1757  to  1771, 
amount  to  751,500,000  livrcs.(a)  To  what  will  it  amount, 
if  there  be  added  to  it  thofc  drawn  from  the  Carnatic  and  from 
Oude,  of  which  Nabobs  have  the  Hiadow  only  of  the  propc.;;, 
from  the  revenue  of  ihe  Northern  Circars,  from  the  tlieft  com- 
mitted on  the  Emperor  of  Mogul,  from  1771  to  the  prefent  day, 
of  his  twenty-fix  millions,  from  the  perpetual  Incrcafe  of  ter- 
ritories and  revenues,  from  thefale  made  in  1773  ^^  ^^'^  Rohil- 
lat  to  the  Nabob  of  Ouile,  which  produced  to  the  Englifh  up- 
wards of  fifty  millions  ?(b) 

F.nally,  what  will  be  the  amount,  if  there  be  added  to  it  the 
CJiormous  fums  exported  from  the  Indies  by  individuals,  who 
have  there   eririf-hed  themfitlves?     The  fortune  c*^'  Lord  dive 
was  beyond  calculation  j  that  of  Mr.  Haftlng3,  againft  whom 
a  profecution  is  now  carrying  on,  is  calculated  at  thirty  or  for- 
ty millions.     Another  Governor  has,  according  to  feveral  well- 
founded  reports,  recently  paid  upwards  of  two  millions  of  livr?s 
toijience  his  accufers.     It  is  true  that  a  part  of  thefe  immenf« 
riches  have  be:n  employed   to  dJVay  the  expsnces  incurred  by 
the  Engli/h  in  guarding  their  polfertion  5  in  India;  that  a  nioie 
confiJeiable  one  has  been  f  nt  into  Europe  under  the  fcrm  of 
merchandize;  bui  it  cannot  be  denied  that  a  third  part  has  bcea 
brought  in  gold  and  filver  to  our  continent.   What  is  the  amount 
of  it?     This  is  impofTible  to  ftare.     But  whatever  it  may  be, 
it  renders  the  calculation  of  Mr.  Neckar  doubtful.— Lee  the  in- 
exhauftible  riches  of  the  Indies  be  judged  of  by  one  fa£t,  and 
confecjuently  the  immenfc  f3urc2  from  which  the  Europeans 
have  dra,vn  them,  and  by  another  confecjuencc,  the  money  which 
mufl:  have  come  into  Europe.      Nadir  Schah,  who  conquered 
Dclly  in  1740,  took  from  India  abovit  forty  millions  fterling.(c) 
This  money  was  circulated  in  I'erfia,  and  as  that  unhappy  ftatc 

(a)  The  detail  of  this  calculation  is  given  in  The  Defcrip- 
tion  of  the  Indies,  Vol.  I,  pjge  249.  It  is  necefifary  to  taUe 
notice  here  of  an  error  crept  into  that  work,  which  is,  that  I'le 
fum  total  is  there  given  in  pounds  fterling,  inftead  of  livres  toui- 
nois. 

(b)  See  Mackinto/h's  Voyage  to  the  Eaft  Indies,  Vol.  I. 
page  340. 

(c)  See  Mackintofh's  Vojages,  Vol.  I.  page  341, 


J  .  ■  *:' 


(i!,; 


i8 


ON  THE  COMMERCE  OP  THB 


eft  cnre  and  fidelity  be  employed  to  rtnder  them  per- 
feft,  tlie  rcfult  will  never  be  more  certain  or  deci- 
five:  for  as  long  as  prohibitory  laws,  which  are  al- 
ways accompanied  by  illicit  commerce,  fliall  exift, 
it  will  be  impoflible  to  know  and  Hate  exadly  what 
comes  in  and  goes  our;'*  and  if  there  be  a  coun- 
try where  no  fuch  laws  exi{l,|  are  exa£l  rcgKters  of 

the 


IS  toin  by  Hcfpotifm  and  continual  war8,(d)  produces  but  liftle, 
aoanufat^ures  nothing,  and  is  corifequently  d«btor  to  exterior 
conrmerce,  which  comes  almoft  entirely  into  Europe,  it  follows 
that  two-lhirdb  of  the  fums  (lolen  from  India  by  the  freebooter 
Nadir,  have  palTcd  over  to  ihc  fame  quaiter.  Thefe  events, 
unnoticed  liy  political  calculators,  have  certainly  had  great  and 
uiiiveifal  influence  upcn  the  riuftiiation  and  circulation  of  mo- 
ney, Tbar  which  makes  it  fuj^pnfed  that  no  metals  come  fiom 
India,  is  the  opinion  that  their  importation  is  difadvantageous. 
But  have  the  freebooters  who  have  pillaged  that  country  for  the 
laft  thirty  years  calculated  this  difaovantage  ?  They  ftrivc  to 
fccure  iheir  thefti,  and  do  not  fpcculatc  like  merchants:  bulky 
merchandize  would  betray  them. 

With  r -fprft  to  the  flated  fums  of  money  which  pafs  from 
Europe  or  ln.'.ia,  theie  is  the  fame  defeft  in  the  calculations  of 
Mr.  Nrekar.  He  takes  no  noHce  of  the  events  which  obliged 
the  Engli/h  to  remit  confiderable  fums  to  India*,  for  inftance, 
the  two  v/ars  againft  the  Marratas  were  proijigioufly  expenfive, 
that  agalnft  Hyder  Ally  in  1769  was  no:  lefs  fo.  A  fingle  con- 
flagration at  Calcutta  coft  nearly  twenty-four  millions  of  livres, 
which  it  was  receflary  to  replace  :  yet  thefe  fums  are  far  from 
balancing  thofe  which  are  exported  from  India. 

(d)  Sec  Mr.  Capper's  Voyage,  at  the  end  of  that  of  Mackin* 
tofh.   Vol.  II.  page  454. 

•  This  is  a  ftrong  objcflion  mai'e  by  the  adverfaries  of  Lord 
Sheffield,  to  wjiich  his  Lordfhip  has  not  fatisfadlorily  replied. 

Nothing  can  be  more  impofing  than  the  tables  of  importa- 
tion and  exportation,  and  of  the  balance  of  trade  in  Great-' 
Britain,  publi/hed  by  Sir  Charles  Whitworth.  Yet  fee  with 
what  facility  tbu  Count  de  Mirabeau  reduces  to  twenty  mil- 
lions cf  livres  tournois,  the  ninety  millions  which  Sir  Charles 
Whitworth  cftimatei  to  be  the  annual  balance  of  Englifli  com- 
merce j  and  trull  after  this  to  cudom-houfe  calculations.— See 
Confiderations  on  the  Order  of  Cincinnatus,  in  this  volume. 

•f  Such  a  country  doescxift.    There  are  many  States  among 
the  new  Republics  of  America,  which  regifier  vefiels  as  they 


VMITED  3TATES  OF   AMERICA. 


29 


the  exports  and  imports  to  be  found  in  it?  And  if 
they  were,  would  it  not  be  a  conftraint  which  the 
private  interefts  of  merchants  would  frequently  oblige 
them  to  avoid  ? 

Moreover,  docs  it  appear  that,  in  thefe^general 
balances,  which  are  I'uppofcd  to  be  paid  in  money, 
notice  is  taken  of  the  operation  of  bankers,  foreign 
government,  and  thofe  who  go  abroad,  in  export- 
ing the  public  fpecie.*  Knowledge  is  deceitful  which 
is  acquired  from  fuch  confequences. 

But  how  appreciate — how  eftimate  the  incrcafe 
of  the  riches  and  commerce  of  a  nation? — By  lis 
population.  If  this  fenfibly  augments,  if  eafc  and 
the  conveniencics  of  life  become  more  general,  if 
the|Caufes  of  indigence  in  an  increafing  people  be 
feen  to  dimlnifli,  or  are  confined  to  inability  to  work, 
occafioned  by  accidental  illneflcs;  it  is  evident,  that 
the  revenues  of  that  nation  exceed  its  expences,  and 
that  the  balance  of  trade  is  in  its  favour;  for  if  the 
yalue  of  its  exportation  were  inferior  to  that  of  its 

D  3  importation, 


«nter,  becaufe  duties  are  paid  on  Inaportatlons)  but  there  arr. 
Done  on  exportation* 

*  It  is  very  probable  ♦•here  are  a  number  of  particnlar  caufeg 
which  infenfibly  diminifii  the  quantity  of  coin  in  thofe  nations 
whicl)  have  the  balanct  of  trade  conftantly  in  their  favour. 
Were  no  fuch  caufestocxiil,  the  confcquence  would  be  that  fucii 
nations  would  be  obliged  to  bury  their  gold  and  filver  in  the 
earth,  to  prevent  its  falling  into  difufcj  yet  neither  of  thefc 
cafes  happen.  Therefore  money  ncceflarily  paflTes  from  fuch 
countries  to  others. 

M.  Cafaiix  has  proved  this  to  be  true,  with  refpeft  to  En»- 
Jandjinhis  Conlideraticnson  the  Mechanism  of  Society. 
He  there  explains,  hat  if  the  calculations  of  Sir  Charles  Whit- 
worth  be  true,  England  ought  to  ooflTefs  at  this  moment  about 
four  hundred  thoufand  millions  of  livrcs  in  gold  and  filver,  as 
the  fole  balance  of  her  commerce  from  1700  to  1775.  Yet 
it  is  certain  that  flie  is  far  from  having  that  enormous  fum. 
She  has  not  even  a  fum  in  prop^rtion  to  her  population  and 
contingencies.  She  fupplies  that  deficiency  by  an  iaioicnfe  cir- 
^iilatipa  of  her  bank-paper* 


.,  V 


3» 


CN  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


importation,  a  confiderable  debt  and  impovcrifliment 
would  foon  be  the  confeqiiences:  and  impoverifli- 
ment  falls  immediately  upon  population.  It  is  there- 
fore by  rational  and  well  compofed  tables  upon  this 
fubje^t  only,  that  a  minifter  of  found  judgment,  pro- 
found and  extended  in  his  plans,  will  be  prevailed 
upon  to  govern  himfelf.  It  is  by  them  he  will  judge 
of  the  increafe  and  advantages  of  exterior  commerce^ 
as  well  as  of  national  riches. 

He  will  be  very  cautious  of  decorating  with  this 
title  the  amalfing  of  gold  and.filver,  and  equally  fo 
of  making  it  the  token  of  riches,  or  of  judging  of 
their  extent  by  the  quantity  of  thofe  metals.  All 
fuch  ideas  are  fordid,  dangerous-,  and  falfe;  fordid, 
becaufe  they  attach  to  this  fign  the  reprcfentation  of 
produ6lions,  and  confequently  the  extenfion  of  com- 
merce; dangerous,  becaufe  they  accuftom  men  to 
look  upon  gold  as  real  riches,  to  neglect  the  thing 
for  its  ihadow,*  and  make  them  ftrangers  to  their 

country; 

*  Could  gold  and  filver  be  prefctved  from  adulteration  and 
the  attempts  of  tyranny  and  ignorance,  they  would  have  a  tr.Mch 
better  tUle  to  be  confldered  as  rnal  riches.  Gold  being  an  uni- 
7erfai  agent,  he  who  poireflet  it  may  emigrace  to  wherever  he 
pleafes,  and  take  his  gold  with  him.  This  metal  is  therefore 
every  thing  with  nations  unhappy  enough  to  make  arbitrary  ex- 
ceptions to  general  maxims,  upon  which  public  credit  is  found* 
«d«  JBuf  how  dearly  do  they  pay  r)r  their  ignorance  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  public  credit !  How  dearly  do  govfruments  ihem- 
felves  pay  for  their  errors  and  outrages  i  All  thnr  meafures  are 
forced— nature  is  liberal  in  vain  }  inceffaiuly  employed  in  re- 
pairing evils  which  continually  prcfent  theint'elves,  (he.  has  not 
time  enough  allowed  her  to  add  to  our  happii.efs.  When  it  was 
faid  that  money  had  no  part'tulair  country,  governments  were 
emphatically  told,  that  it  was  nectffary  to  do  without  great 
quantities  of  it:  it  will  never  be  icjeited  till  the  ineftimable  ad- 
vantages refulting.from  a  refpefl  for  public  creJi.:  fhall  be  pro- 
perly known.  The  lefs  individuals  love  and  heap  up  money, 
the  richer,  more  enlightened,  and  bPtter  governed  will  a  nation 
be.  To  be  attacheii  to  money,  to  hoard  it  up,  is  a  Hgo  of  an 
alarminiT  crifis,  of  a  deficiency  of  judgment  aiid  faith  in  admi- 
fiUlrattonj  from  whence  comes  the  proof  of  what  has  been  faid 


UKIfED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


3« 


country;  falfe,  becaufe  that  difplay  of  figares  an^ 
noiinces  the  quantity  only  of  money  which  conti- 
nually diCappears;  and  which,  when  carried  to  a  cer- 
tain degree,  is  of  no  farther  confideration.* 

Enquiries  on  the  quantity  of  coin  are  like  thofe 
on  the  balance  of  trade.  To  eftablifli  both  one  and 
the  other  with  fome  degree  of  certainty,  it  is  necef- 
fary  to  aflfemble  notions  and  details,  of  which  the 
elementary  principles  yanifh,  or  inceflantly  vary.f 

The 


II    vM 


In  the  text,  that  *  a  writer  who  extols  gold  as  a  fign  of  riches^ 
and  recominends  it  to  his  fellow  cicizens,  is  deceived,  or  has  ft 
bad  idea  of  their  fituation.'  In  the  laft  cafe  he  would  do  much 
better,  if  inftcad  of  preaching  this  pernicious  doftrine,  he  en- 
couraged government  to  give  an  immoveable  ftabiiity  to  national 
cretiu. 

*  It  has  not  yet  been  remarked,  that  thoufa^ds  of  millions 
18  a  vague  expreifion,  and  does  not  furnifh  a  complete  idea.  The 
imagination  cannot  exa£lly  conceive  for  fuch  a  fum  an  employ 
which  would  ferve  as  the  meafure  of  its  power  and  effeft.  It 
is  known  what  could  be  done  with  twenty  or  an  hundred  mil- 
lions of  men,  but  it  is  not  known  what  could  beefTefled  with 
an  hundred  thoufand  millions  of  crowns}  yet  they  are  heaped 
upon  paper  to  give  an  idea  of  power. 

"I"  In  general,  the  maf;  of  gold  or  filver  is  divided  inco  three 
principal  parts.— The  fiift  iinder  the  form  of  money,  fcrvca 
for  daily  and  unavoidable  expences*  Each  individual,  as  foon 
as'hc  is  charged  with  the  lupport  of  himfelf  and  family,  muft 
have  at  leail:  fome  pieces  of  money  for  dally  exigencies,  and 
the  payment  of  imports.  To  this  mutl  be  added  that  fum 
which  is  referved  for  cafualties.— This  cuftom  is  morr  or  lefa 
oblerved  in  ail  countries,  in  proportion  to  the  probability  of  dif- 
aflrous  events.  It  is  impofhble  to  calculate  this  firft  part.— • 
It  is  however  evi<^ent,  that  it  ought  to  fee  in  proportion  to  the 
populition,  and  to  increafe  with  itj  and  that  a  dccreafe  of 
population  would  foon  take  place,  were  mai^y  individuals  total- 
ly deprived  of  a  pecuniary  contingency  fufficientto  procure  them 
fucli  neceffaries  a:,  cannot  be  difpenfcd  with,  and  which  they 
neith.:r  make  nor  receive  themfelves.  It  appears  alfo,  that  this 
part  of  the  coi-^  remains  in  the  country  by  reafon  of  its  con- 
tinued applicuion  in  little  fums  to  daily  wants,  and  of  the  ab- 
folute  ftagnati  >n  of  that  which  is  laid  up  in  referve. 

The  lecond  part  is  defined,  under  th^  fame  form,  to  (he 
great  opeiations  gf  commerce.    It  is  ec^uaily  imp oflibic  to  fix 


'^^n:w 


-:!*:; 


m 


^■i'm 


j*&  t)N  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

The  proceedings  in  theadminiflration  of  finances 
are  more  ufeful  and  certain ;  by  laying  a/ide  the  pomp 
of  falfe  riches,  and  by  confidering  gold  and  filver 
in  a  point  of  view  relative  to  their  particular  pro- 
perties. They  fupply  our  wants  as  means  of  ex- 
change only;  they  arc  notes  to  the  bearer,  which 
having  every  where  the  fame  value,  are  every  where 
negociable.  Thus  they  are  ambulatory;  they  pafs, 
repafs,  are  accumulated  or  difperfed  like  the  waves 
of  the  fea,  continually  agitatCfl  by  fucceflive  winds 

blowing 

rts  quantity,  on  acountof  an  infinity  of  combinations  which 
continually  change  and  caufe  thefe  metals  to  pafs  from  one 
country  to  another.  Daily  charges,  cuftoms,  &c.  retain  a  partj 
but  ihcfe  objedls  belong  equally  to  onr  firH:  divifion. 

The  thifJ  part  contains  uncoined  gold  and  filver,  under  what- 
ever form  ihey  may  have  :  it  is,  like  the  fecond,  fubje£^  tc 
numbers  of  continual  variations,  which  leave  no  'atistadtory 
means  of  determining  its  quantity. 

To  pretend  to  afctrtain  the  quantity  in  the  mafs,  by  pay- 
ments of  uncertain  commercial  balances,  and  by  the  addition 
ef  fpecie  produced  from  mints  fince  a  new  coinage  has;  taken 
^lace,  is  not  a  more  certain  means,  becaufe  it  would  be  equal- 
ly neceflary  to  obferve  the  continual  afVion  of  commerce  upon 
thefe  metals,  under  all  their  forms,  and  of  the  combinations 
It  produces,    which  fucceiTiveiy  arife  from  one  another.     In 
thus  cftimating  money  it  is  forgotten,  that  it  is  an  univerfal 
agent,  which,  by  that  charader  alone,  muft  neccflarlly  charge 
its  fituation  perpetually  j  fince  commerce  has  produced  an  af- 
finity among  men,  by  wants,  which  they  have  created  to  them- 
ftr'ves,  of  their  reci'prccal   produftions.     It  is  equally  unob- 
ferved,    that  different  circumftances  reduce  gold  to   the  ftate 
of  an  ingot;  that  confeqviently  the  fame  piece  may  pafs  fcveral 
times  under  the  die  in  the  courf«  of  a  certain  number  of  years. 
This  la  a  vtRt^'ion  which  M.  Neclcar  fecms  not  to  liave  made 
when  he  ftated  the  money  exifting  in   France  at  fo  canfiderabie 
a  fum.     It  will  be  known  when  tre  recoinagc  of  the  old  Lr^ui* 
is  fir^in^ed,  what  v>.e  ought  to  think  of  his  calculations,     Buc 
the  fum  is  far  fhort  of  957  millions,  as  e^imated  by  that  mi- 
nifttT.     It  is  more  than  pruL^blc,  that  it  will  never  amount  to 
more  :han  two  thirds  of  it. 

At  tills  moment,  fourteen  monchs  after  the  arret  for  a  new 
coinage,  it  amouuts  to  no  more  than  550  millions,  and  ever/ 
tking  in<licaie*  «  rapid  decline, 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  ^$ 

blowing  from  every  point  of  the  compafs.  To  un- 
dertake to  make  them  ilationary,  would  be  driving 
to  change  their  nature,  to  deprive  them  of  that  pro- 
perty from  which  they  derive  their  value:  this  ridi- 
culous enterprife  is,  notvvithilanding,  a  confequence 
of  the  fyftem  which caufes  them  to  be  looked  upon  as 
real  treafures.  Their  difappearance  is  dreaded,  and  yet 
their  circulation  is  clogged,  and  the  mind  lofes  fight 
of  the  ufe  of  the  mod  fimple  and  univerfal  means, 
of  creating  real  riches,  without  which  metals  would 
be  ufeiefs,  and  confequently  of  no  value. 

On  the  contrary,  difdaining  vulgar  opinions,  and 
feeing  nothing  in  gold  and  filver  but  the  means  of 
exchange,  but  proper  agents  to  facilitate  it ;  the  mind, 
freed  from  the  fear  of  the  want  of  them  as  riches^  con- 
ceives the  idea  of  doing  without  them  as  agents^  at 
leaft  about  man's  perfon.'*"  What  a  vaft  field  is  this 
opened  to  induflry !  Thefe  metals  are  in  that  cale 
referved  for  the  befl  ufes  towhich  nations  who  obtain 

thenn 


•  It  is  adoni filing,  that  among  fo  many  travellers  wlio  have 
gone  over  the  Uniied  States  of  America,  not  one  of  them  has 
given  a  detail  of  the  manner  of  exchanging  feveral  neceffariea 
of  life;  they  are  reciprocally  furnifhed  in  the  country  with  what 
they  are  in  vi'ant  of,  without  the  interference  of  money.  The 
taylor,  fhoe-maker,  &c.  exeicife  their  profefHons  in  the  houfe 
of  the  hulbandman  who  has  occafion  for  their  commodities, 
and  who,  for  the  moft  part,  furnlfliea  materials,  and  pays  for 
the  workmanfliip  in  provifions,  &c.-— This  kind  of  exchange 
extends  to  many  objefts  j  t^cii  of  thefe  people  write  di^wn  what 
they  receive  and  give,  and  at  the  end  of  tiie  year  thtj^  clofe  an 
account  confiftlng  of  an  infinity  of  articles,  with  «;^cry  fmall 
fum  J  this  could  not  be  efFcdlcd  in  Europe,  but  withia  great  deal 
of  money.  Thus  it  appears,  that  an  eafy  means  of  doing  with- 
out great  fums  of  money  is  given  to  country  people  by  inftrufl- 
ing  them  in  writing  and  arithmetic;  that  confequently  the 
fovereign  who  fhould  eftablifh  fchools  for  the  purpofe  of  teach- 
ing this  moft  necefTary  art  and  fcience,  would  create  a  confider- 
able  means  of  circulation  without  the  ufc  of  coin,  and  that 
this  expence,  which  feems  to  alarm  fo  many  governments,  ia 
in  faft  one  of  the  moft  lucrative  fpeculations  which  the  treafury 
could  maket 


!■).  «ii  ■! 


I 


III 


il'  k  ! 


54  ON  THE  COMMERCE   OF  THE 

them  from  abroad  can  put  them.  They  are  fent  out  to 
feek  materials  for  induftrv,  new  commodities,  and 
cfpecially  increafe  the  number  of  citizens;  of  every 
fpecies  of  riches  this  is  the  mod  fure  and  fruitful. 
Thus,  when  gold  is  reduced  to  its  exa€t  value,  that 
its  real  ufe  is  known,  the  advantageous  purpofes  to 
which  it  is  proper,  are  more  juftly  calculated.     It  is 
then  perceived  that  paper  credit  may  have  the  fame 
properties  as  gc'd  itfelf;  and  to  fucceed  in  giving 
thein  to  it,  nothing  more  is  nec^ifary  than  to  preferve 
the  moft  inviolable  refpe6t  for  the  principles  which 
fup{)ort  public  confidence;  for  upon  what  bafi*-  reds 
the  value  and  general  ufe  of  money,  if  it  be  not  upon 
the  certitude  that  it  will  be  received  every  where  in 
payment  for  things  which  men's  wants  may  require, 
becaufe  of  its  conventional  value?    Why  fliould  a 
paper  which  prefents  the  fame  conventional  value, 
the  fame  certitude  and  folidity,  be  refufed  in  pay- 
ment?    I  will  add  more — A  more  folid  bafis  than 
gold  and  filver  have,  may  be  given  to  paper  money  :* 
for  Wfc  have  no  guarantee  that  the  value  of  thefe  me- 
tals will  not  be  all  at  once  diminifhed  by  the  dlfcovcy 
of  new  and  rich  mines;  we  cannot  calculate  their 
quantities  concealed  in  the  earth,  and  men  incefiant- 
ly  rake  up  its  bowels  in  fearch  of  them.f     Therefore 
in  countries  where  precious  metalo  are  fcarce,  but 
where  lands  may  be  fuccefsfully  cultivated,  banks 
JUiould  be  formed,  whofe  operations  fliould  chieflv 

reft 

*  I  fay  paper  money,  witliout  rttacliing  to  this  exprcflion  the 
Idea  of  conflraint  to  receive  it  as  fuch  :  this  obligation  dinr»!» 
niHies  its  value— I  would  fay  paper  credit,  if  the  word  crv'^dit 
did  not  feem  to  exclude  its  princi|;il  quality,  tlijt  of  being  al- 
ways fufceptible,  and  in  an  infiant  of  being  coiiverted  into  mo- 
ney without  the  leaft  lofs. 

-|-   Why  fhould  not  difcoverles  be  Tnade  In  other  countries, 
Jike   that  in  the  lad  century  by  two  Shepherds  in  Norway,  ot" 
the  v.zh   mines  of  Konfberg,  where  very  confiderable  niafles 
of  filver  are  found  ?     The  King  of  Denip-ark  ha8  one  of  5601b, 
weiijht  in  his  cabincr. 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  3^ 

'reft  upon  title  deeds  and  productions  depofited;  in 
a  word,  upon  fuch  objects  only  as  gold  and  lilver 
ihould  reprefent.* 

In  countries  where  thefe  metals  are  already  in  cir- 
culation, but  are  ftill  foreign  produdions,  eafy  and 
certain  means  fliould  be  fought  after  to  render  ex- 
changes lefs  dependent  on  the  fecurity  or  abundance 
of  fpecie.  Paper  credit  fliould  be  naturalized  there, 
becaufe  its  infallible  effect  is  to  double  or  treble  the 
quantity  of  current  coin,  and  even  to  replace  it  en- 
tirely, where,  as  in  England,  public  confidence  has 
never  received  a  wound.  Thefe  obfervations  might 
be  more  •xtended  if  a  treatife  on  the  nature  of  banks 
and  Caifles  d'Efcompte  were  in  queftion.  But  thi^ 
is  not  my  prefent  objedl;  I  have  confidered  exterior 
commerce  in  its  means  of  exchange  only,  like  metals 
snd  paper  credit,  and  in  its  balance  for  the  purpofe 
of  applying  thefe  principles  to  the  relations  and 
commerce  of  France  and  the  United  States:    and 

more 


fvu:i 


*  It  is  i40t  true  that  much  goU  and  filver  are  necefTary  to 
eftablifh  banks,  or  create  notes  which  may  be  thrown  into  cir- 
culation. A  proof  of  the  contrary  arjfes  from  fa<fls  continually 
before  our  eyes.  The  multitude  of  bills  of  exchange  which 
circulate  and  crofs  each  other  in  every  diredtion,  have  not  all 
of  them,  for  origin  ami  fecurity,  a  depofit  of  gold  r.nd  filver. 
Neither  are  they  all  paid  when  due  with  thefe  metals.  Com- 
merce produces  an  abundance  of  fuch  papers,  v.'hicli  falling  due 
on  the  fame  day,  are  difcharged  by  each  other  without  the  in- 
tervention of  fpecie,  efpeciaily  in  cities  where  public  banks  are 
eftablirtied  to  facilitatc'this  kind  of  payment.  Thefe  are  called 
transfers,  and  the  principal  objetfl  of  Caifies  d'Efcomptes  anl 
banks  is  to  facilitate  them  ny  tht;  payment  of  bills  fallen  due  by 
thofe  which  have  iVill  fome  time  to  run.  In  fine,  thefe  Caifles 
d'Efcomptes  and  banks,  are  themfelvcs  caufes  and  ftriking  proofs 
cf  (he  little  difficulty  there  is  in  fupplying,  by  confidence,  the 
places  of  gold  and  fiiver.  Fitft  cilabin'hdd  by  depcfits  in  Ipecie, 
they  foon  circulate  ilu'ir  notes  for  fums  more  confid^'rablc  than 
thofe  depofited  '•  and  what  furery  is  theie  for  i!ie  payment  of  fuch 
notes,  if  it  be  not  by  other  bill:  not  due,  wiiich  the  Cainbs  :md 
banks  receive  in  cxch''  ige  fo*  their  own  notes  payable  at  fight,  to 
which  public  confiJcriCe  gives  the  fame  value  as  to  gold  and  fiiver. 


^6  ON  TIfE  COMMETICE  OF  THE 

more  efpecially  to  clear  up  fome  difficulties  to  the 
French,  who  feem  to  have  a  bad  opinion  of  this 
commercial  intercoiirfe,  on  account  of  the  want  of 
money  in  America,  and  to  encourage  the  independent 
Americans,  who  feem  to  dread  the  pretended  incon- 
veniencies  arifing  from  its  deficiency. 

I  think  I  have  proved : 

I  ft.  That  the  balance  of  trade  is  but  an  infignifi- 
cant  word :  that  the  balance  paid  in  fpecie  is  no 
proof  of  a  difadvantageous  commerce  on  the  part  of 
the  nation  which  pays  it,  nor  advantageous  to  the 
nation  which  receives  it.* 

ad.  That  the  tables  of  that  commercial  balance 
deferve  no  faith:  and  that  the  onTv  method  of  efti- 
mating  the  increafe  of  trade,  is  by  the  increale  of 
poDulation.f 

3d.  That 


*  Obferve  what  a  refpedVable  author,  well  verf«d  In  the  matter) 
and  whom  We  fhali  hereafter  have  occaiion  to  quote,  thinks  of  it. 

**  Thefe  commercial  balances,  calculated  in  different  ftates, 
are  pitiful ;  when  I  fee  confequences  drawn  from  ridiculous  and 
laboured  official  accounts,  mi  fanno  dal  risocrepare. 

**  To  confider  France  and  England  only,  the  two  principal 
manufatluring  countries,  and  the  moft  commercial  ones  in  the 
world,  what  omiflions,  negligences,  double  employs*  errors, 
corruptions,  no6lurnai  expeditions,  duties  evaded,  and  contra- 
band trade !  The  prodigious  quantity  of  wool  which  is  fent 
from  Kng'and  is  certainly  not  regiftered,  no  more  than  the  filks, 
gold  laces,  gauzes,  blondes,  cambrics,  brandies,  and  many  other 
articles  which  are  fraudulently  introduced  there.  The  fame  in 
France:  no  account  can  be  taken  of  the  immenfe  quantities  of 
drapery,  hofiery,  and  fmall  hardware,  which  the  Eiiglifh  fend  in 
exchange.'  Voy.  en  Italic,  de  M.  Roland  de  la  Palatiere,  torn. 
1.  p.  35Z. 

f  The  errors  in  thefe  pretended  balances  muft  be  continually 
infifted  upon  :  confequences  dangerous  to  the  people  are  fre- 
quently drawn  from  them. 

Financiers  v/ho  pillage  the  kingdom,  fay  to  Princes  on  pre- 
fencing  t-h;'.in  thefc  fallacious  calculatioiit,  *•  that  things  are  in 
a  profperous  way  ;  that  tommeice  flourifhcs,  that  irrpofts  may 
be  laid  on,  loans  negociated,  &c.  Thtic  fophifms  ar«  feduc- 
ing:  let  Princes  accuftom  thcmfelves  to  juJgc  of  public  prof- 


tJSITED  ITATES  OF  AMERICA,  jy 

3d.  That  it  is  impoflible  to  judge  exadlly  of  the 
quantity  of  money  exifting  in  a  country,  and  that  all 
calculations  on  that  head  are  founded  upon   an  un- 
certain and  defective  bafis,  becaufe  it  is  inipoffible  to 
'  colled  all  their  elementary  principles. 
.4th.  That  metak  are  not  real  riches. 

5th.  That  confidered  as  agents  of  exchange,  it 
would  be  more  advantageous  to  fubftitute  paper  cre- 
dit in  intenor  commerce,  and  to  apply  them  to  ufef 
for  whi'  a  paper  is  unfit,  to  wit,  all  the  purpofes  of 
exterior  commerce.  There  refiilts  from  thefe  de- 
monftrations,  that  commerce  may  be  begun  between 
two  nations  without  the  aid  of  money  j  that  the 
quantity  a  nation  has  of  it  to  exchange  for  foreign 
productions  is  in  proportion  to  its  confidential  inte- 
-  rior  eftablifhments,  which  advantageoufly  fupply  its 
place. 

In  three  words,  a  good  foil,  paper  credit,  and  a 
government  anxious  to  fupport  it,  are  the  true  means 
of  opening  the  refources  of  a  nation,  of  procuring 
abundance  of  fpecie,  as  well  as  an  cxtenfive  exterior 
commerce. 

I  have  not  confidered  this  commerce  in  its  influ- 
ence upon  the  manners  of  the  people ;  fuch  a  difcuf- 
fion  would  here  be  ufelefs,  becaufe,  whatever  that 
influence  may  be,  exterior  commerce  is  a  forced  ef- 
i'e6l  of  the  refpedive  fituations  of  France  and  the 
United  States,  as  will  hereafter  be  made  appear.     I 

E  examine 


perlty  by  population,  and  the  general  eafe  of  the  people  j  let 
them  be  eye-witneffes  of  this,  and  miitrurt  a  momentary  ap- 
pearance of  proiperity,  which  frequently  covers  profound  mi fc- 
ry,  and  they  will  not  befo  often  deceived. 

A  King  of  Sardinia  paid  a  vifit  to  a  part  of  Savoy,  thcnobi-* 
lity  of  which  had  been  reprefcnted  tohim  as  being  poor  and  mi- 
ferable:  lliey  came  to  him  elegantly  drelfed  in  clothes  of  cere- 
mony, to  make  him  their  court.  At  this  the  King  expr'flei 
his  furprife  to  one  of  the  gentleman,  who  faid  tohim, '  i»ire,  nout 
faifons  pour  votre  Majcfte  tout  ce  que  nous  dcvons^  mais  noua 
<ievoHS  :out  ce  que  nous  faifons.* 


r* 


38  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

examine  this  matter  as  a  politician,  not  as  a  philofp- 
pher,  and  I  pray  the  reader  not  to  forget  the  dillinc- 
tion. 


CHAPTER  III. 

yfppUcation  of  the  foregoing  general  Pri:iciplcs  to  fhe  recipi'O' 
cal  Commerce  of  France  and  the  United  States, 

That  Fiance  h  ow  vy  Means  of  procuring  a  great  Commerce, 
and  thofe  w'n.  r  •;,  ■  (lure  it  to  her  in  the  United  States  j 
that  her  Produc  ui.  p'oper  for  them  ;  and  thather  parti- 

cular  interior  Circumft-^  .  1  oblige  her  to  engage  in    this 
Commerce. 


T. 


HESE  truths  v;iIInot  be  contefled  when  the  fer- 
tility of  the  foil  of  France  fhall  be  confidered,  her 
various  and  particular  produdions,  and  the  tempe- 
rature of  her  climate,  which  favours  thofe  the  moft 
Umple  and  neceflary. 

Thefe  advantages  conftantly  alTure  her  workman- 
jQiipat  a  lower  price  than  thofe  of  nations  endowed 
with  the  fame  activity,  but  which  have  not  the  ad- 
vantages of  fuch  favourable  circuinftances. 

Her  manufactures  are  numerous,  and  her  popu- 
lation is  confiderable  in  coinparifon  with  that  of  moft 
other  nations.  Yet  thcfe  are  far  from  the  degree  to 
which  they  may  be  extended ;  for  in  confidering 
France,  room  for  a  more  extenfive  population  is 
foon  difcovered,  and  an  immenfity  of  means  for  a 
great  number  of  manufa«5turcs,  which  only  wait  for 
the  will  of  government  lO  be  eftabliflied. 

What  other  nation  has  more  activity?  more  in- 
dullry?  or  unites  tofo  great  a  degree,  all  the  advanta- 
ges of  civilization,  and  the  matter  and  means  of  the 
moft  varied  and  extenfive  interior  and  exterior  con>,- 
merce,  independent  of  compleiioa?     What  other 

would 


vUNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  39 

wbuUl  have  been  nble  to  refift,  for  fo  long  a  time, 
the  chain  of  mislortunes,  and  repeated  faults  of 
which  Ihe  has  been  the  victim  ?  The  force  of  hei" 
conftitution,  rather  than  her  apparent  pn)fj)erity, 
ought  to  be  calculated  by  this  refiftance.  France  is 
not  what  Ihe  mipjit  and  ought  to  be.  There  is  no 
doubt  but  Ihe  will  become  fo  if  flie opens  her  eyes  to 
her  true  interefts,  if,  unfliackHng  her  interior,  fhc 
does  not  neglrft  hvr  exterior  commerce,  and  parti- 
cularly that  wliieh  the  United  States  wifli  to  open 
with  her.  The  produc^lions  of  her  foil  and  indullry 
are  proper  for  tlieni.  She  can  export  in  e*<change, 
from  independent  America,  the  raw  materials  lor 
which  (lie  may  have  occafion.  Thefe  two  countr'  5 
may  therefore  carry  on  a  lihe^  commerce  of  ',:- 
cha?2ge  between  them,  and  fo  much  the  more  ad'  n- 
tageous,  as  the  raw  materials,  which  muft  con^"  "u.? 
it,  would  coft  them  more  in  any  other  place.  Th  is 
truths  will  not  be  doubted  when  the  doubl  cata- 
logue of  the  refpedive  wanti  of  France  ai.  ■  tie 
United  States,  or  of  their  importation  and  exporta- 
tion, (liall  have  been  examined.  " 

Intelligent  patriots  are  of  opinion,  that  it  cannot 
be  advantageous  to  France,  in  her  prefent  fltuation, 
to  engage  in  the  commerce  of  the  United  States. — 
They  obferve,  that  her  manufactures  being  inferior 
to  thofe  of  the  Engliib,  file  will  be  worfted  in  the 
American  markets  ;  they  add,  that  inffead  of  en- 
couraging this  commerce,  government  would  per- 
haps aft  more  wifely  by  preventing  the  interior  abu- 
fes  which  ftop  the  progrefs  of  cultivation  and  in- 
duftry. 

I  am  far  from  denying  the  neceility  there  may  be 
of  ftirring  to  reform  fuch  abufes,  d  to  direft  our 
efforts  to  culture  and  the  improvement  of  manufac- 
tures j  but  it  is  eafy  to  demonftrate,  that  exterior 
commerce  will  in  a  very  (hort  time  infallibly  bring 

5^  a  Oft 


t:  ;; 


x-m 


^        :*«^ 


\  ■■'■It; 


'■^'  ,'j 


i<  ^  ii 


'\  •  ' '» 


1 


II 


i  :1 


40 


ON  TITB  COMMERCE  OF  THE* 


on  fiich  a  reform,  and  that  France  in  her  prefcnt 
Ihte  is  in  the  greateft  need  of  this  exterior  trade. 

IneftVd\,  an  a6^ive and  indnftrious nation,  whofe 
foil  is  fertile,  ought  always  to  have  markets  for  the 
laieofiis  ccmmodities  to  animate  its  induftry.  Its 
culture  and  maniifn(5lures  would  languifli  if  the  li- 
mits of  its  confumption  were  perceived.  It  is  even 
iieceflary  that  thefe  markets  (liould  be  fuperabun- 
dant;  that  one  may  fucceed  the  other,  in  cafe  of  un» 
iufpe(5ted  events,  wiiich  might  caufe' a  momentary 
change  in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  things. 

What  caufe  has  thrown  Iitland  into  fo  continued 
a  ftate  of  languor,  although  one  of  thofe  countries 
the  mod  favoured  bv  nature,  and  the  beft  fitiiated 
for  exterior  commerce,  if  it  is  not  the  deprivation  of 
that  commerce?  An  eiiibarrafling  exuberance  of 
productions  was  feared  v  the  cultivation  of  them  was 
prefently  negle6led,  and  this  negligence  increafed 
M'afie  lands.  This  ifland  would  at  length  have  of- 
fered a  fpeftacle  of  the  molt  deplorable  mifery,  of  a 
complete  depopulation,  if,  by  a  reflitution  of  theli*- 
berty  of  coi^merce,  an  end  had  not  been  put  to  fo 
cruel  a  difconragement  which  choaked  induftry,  by 
making  it  fear  a  want  of  markets  for  the  vent  of  \\,% 
prodiidiions. 

Let  our  patriots,  therefore,  ceafe  to  look  upon  fo- 
reign commerce  as  contrary  to  the  reforms  which  arc 
to  revive  our  interior  trade:  to  encourage  the  firil 
is  not  to  profcribe  the  fecond,  becaufe  one  cannot 
fucceed  without  the  other.  But,  on  the  contrary,  the 
feeds  of  a<?tivity  are  fowa  in  the  latter,  by  extending 
the  boundaries  of  confumption. 

Alas  !  is  not  France  evidently  in  need  of  them? 
Are  not  her  magazines  crouded  with  a  fuperfluity 
of  the  moft  necefHuy  produdions,  for  which,  flie  has 
JIG  market?  Such  as,  amongft  others,  her  wines  and 
brandies.*      The  United  States  offer  to  her  an  im- 

menfe 

♦  Such  IS  the  fituation  of  Aunis  and  Saintonge— plentiful 


If 


UNITKD    STATES  OK   AiVfrRlC.v.  4t 

menfe  confuniptioii  5  wliy  does  Ihe  refute  to  fupply 
thtm  ? 

Even  if  her  wines  and  bratidles  were  not  in  fiicli 
fuperfluity,  it  wovild  be  prejudicial  rot  to  Ivipport 
the  price  of  them  by  foreign  conlurtiptions.  The 
g  ateft  fcourge  of  induilry,  and  efpecially  if  manu- 
fa<^ures,  is  the  low  price  of  thofc  liquors  which  are 
reducing  by  their  ftrength.  On  tliis  account  prudent 
manufacturers  carefully  avoid  wine  countries.  It 
would  be  fuperfiuous  to  give  a  detail  of  their  rea- 
fons ;  but  certainly  the  politiciati,  the  moll  jealous  of 
a  free  extention  rf  iuJividual  enjoyments,  will  never 
become  an  advocate  for  the  indulgence  of  men  in 
thofc  articles  which  deprive  them  of  their  faculties 
and  reafon. 

France  ought  to  defire  the  commerce  of  the  United 
States.  She  ought  alfo  to  be  anxious  for  it  on  ac- 
count of  her  manufadures,  to  fnip^oy  her  popula- 
tion which  is  hi  want  of  work.  Confequently  work- 
manfliip  is  cheap;  whence  refults  indigence,  beg- 
gary? and  ftrife.*  Work  and  productions  are  in- 
creafed  by  opening  new  markets.  Thus,  for  exam- 
ple, vineyards  will  remain,  which  a  want  of  con- 
fumption  would  foon  caufe  to  bedeftroyed;  tliou- 
fands  of  labourers,  who  languifli,  will  be  employ- 
ed; fociety  will  be  increafed  by  thoufands  of  indivi- 
duals; more  corn,  niore  cloth,  ike.  will  be  necellary : 
hence  an  increafe  of  interior  confumption  and  po- 
pulation. 

E  3  Wiien 

Vintages  are  there  literally  feared,  and  thefe  provinces  are  at 
this  moment  over-charged  with  wine,  for  which  they  have  no 
exportation  :  the  people  are  miferable  in  the  midft  of  abundance. 
See  Note,  Chap.  V.  Se£t.  i. 

*  Means  are  every  day  fought  to  diminish  and  prevent  crimes 
—Let  property  or  employ  be  given  to  thofc  who  are  without 
them:  this  is  the  fecrct— It  muft  notwithftanding  be  agrrtd, 
tliat  property  is  preferable  to  employ  in  workshops ;  under  this 
yoint  of  view,  commerce  with  the  United  States,  in  opening  to 
us  a  great  market,  nyIU  be  a  means  of  diminiihing  mendicity 
nai  vices  in  France. 


;.    li'! 


-n 


ill 


42  ON  IHli  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

When  wc  examine  the  qiic(lii)n,  if  exterior  com- 
merce be  advantageous  and  necellary  to  a  nation;  a 
newly  conftituicd  ftate,  whofe  population  is  far  from 
being  in  proportion  to  its  foil,  wiiere  there  is  fpnce 
ttnd  property  in  land  for  every  one,  mu(l  be  dillin- 
giiiflied  from  that  which  is  ancient,  rich  in  produc- 
tions as  well  as  in  men;  or,  to  fpeak  with  more  prc- 
cifion,  a  ftate  where  the  unequal  riiftribution  of  pro- 
perty takes  men  from  the  fields,  fliuts  them  up  in 
cities,  and  proftitutcs  tlieir  faculties  to  the  fancies  of 
the  rich. 

Certainly  fuch  a  new  ftate  cannot  increafe  its  fo- 
reign commerce  before  it  has  cleared  great  quantities 
of  lands,  and  is  become  confiderably  peopled,  and 
lias  a  furplus  of  men  and  produdions. 

Such  a  ftate,  while  netelfary,  will  undoubtedly 
follow  this  counfel. 

But  this  coiuifel  would  be  improper  to  another 
ftate,  which,  advanced  in  ns  civilization,  covered 
vith  a  population  without  property,  having  manu- 
faflures  and  money  in  abundance;  whofe  induftry 
and  territorial  riches  wait  for  demands,  and  whofe 
culture  languifhes  for  want  of  markets.  A  foreign 
commerce  is  necefTary  to  this  ftate  to  vivify  it. 

Such  is  the  fituation  of  France;  neither  foil,  in- 
duftry, a£livity,  nor  the  thirft  of  gain,  is  there  want- 
ing; other  pernicious  caufes  flacken  her  interior 
commerct.  If  the  merchant  has  not  a  certainty  of 
markets,  he  does  not  buy  nor  give  orders ;  the  ma- 
nufafturer  employs  fewer  hands,  has  lefs  occafion 
for  the  producflions  of  the  earth.  Languor  then  de- 
fcends  from  manufactures  to  cultivation,  and  dimi- 
nifties  population. 

The  reverfe  will  be  the  cafe  in  the  fupj)o{ition  of 
a  vaft  exterior  commerce,  and  will  lead  to  the  im- 
provement even  of  our  manufactures;  for  the  ne- 
ceflity  cf  improving  to  obtain  a  preference  will  ob- 
)ige  manuf^urgrs  to  ftudy  the  tafte  of  the  Ameri- 

canS| 


UMITED  iTATBS  OP  AMERICA.  ^y 

Ctin?,  and  to  conform  iliemfclves  to  it,  to  vary  the 
productions  of  their  indiilby;  and  will  oblige  them 
not  to  relax,  tiiat  they  may  not  be  fiirpalf^d  by  rivals. 

It  is  here  ncceiFary  to  make  foine  rtflcflions  on 
the  general  inferiority  found  in  our  manufac^^ures, 
on  comparing  them  with  thofe  of  the  Englirti.  This 
fa£l  has  furnifhed  Lord  Sheffield  with  his  princi^jal 
argument,  to  maintain  that  America  will  always 
prefer  the  latter.  It  is  neceflary  to  clear  up  this 
point,  which  feems  not  to  be  well  underilood. 

Manufadures  of  luxury,  of  cofiveniency,  and  of 
neceflity,  mufl  be  didinguiflied  in  a  manner  hereaf- 
ter pointed  out.  Lord  Sheffield  and  all  foreigners 
agree,  that  France  has  the  advantage  in  the  firft  clafs 
c*"  manufa(^urcs.*  His  Lordfliip  agrees  even  that 
France  makes  finer  cloths  than  thofe  of  England ; 
but  with  refpefl  to  manufa<^ures  of  convenience, 
or  fuch  as  are  intended  for  the  confumption  of  the 
people,  we  muft,  in  fpite  of  patriotifm,  agree  on 
our  part,  that  we  are  in  many  articles  inferior  to 
the  Englifh.  This  will  appear  by  the  fcquel.  It 
would  be  ridiculous  and  even  dangerous  to  flatter  the 
nation  in  this  particular;  the  illufion  would  keep  it 
in  a  ftate  of  mediocrity.  It  is  for  a  better  conftituted 
patriotifm  to  prove  to  the  nation,  that  it  may  rife 
above  mediocrity,  and  to  fliew  it  by  what  means 
this  is  to  be  effefled.  Should  any  body  wifh  to 
know  the  caufe  of  this  double  difference  between 
the  French  and  Englifli  manufactures,  it  is  as  fol- 
lows:— 

There 

*  Our  manufa£^ure8  of  fi'.k  have  proportionably  a  much 
greater  f^lc  abroad  than  that  of  our  wo:)llens.  It  is  that,  inde- 
pendent of  ?\  !le,  01,  if  we  wil',  of  fafliion,  which  we  pof-ifs, 
and  which  opeis  to  us  a  great  confumption,  the  raw  material 
is  in  a  great  meafure  one  of  our  own  produftiunsj  an  advantage 
which  puts  it  in  I'ur  power  to  furmount  many  general  inconve- 
niencles,  whofc  effects  arc  more  fenfible  upon  our  other  articlcJi 
of  exportation,  fuch  as  wool'ens,  the  production  of  which  has 
Icfi  relation  with  the  manuilidture* 


<'r 


M 


i-.i'.m 


:/  .  Jl 


44.  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  TH£ 

There  is  in  En2land  a  j^reater  number  of  men, 
among  the  [)eople,  in  eafy  circumilances,  than  in 
France,  and  who  are  confequently  in  a  fituation  to 
choofe  and  pay  better  for  fiich  articles  as  they  like. 
It  is  a  known  faft,  that  the  common  people  of  Eng- 
lind,  although  loaded  with  taxes,  are  well  clothed 
and  fed;*  the  ra^i^s  of  mifery  are  not  found  with  the 
poulle  an  fot.\^  The  Engliili  manufadurer  having  a 
greater  demand  for  articles  of  neceflity,  and  being 
better  paid  for  them,  can  make  improvements  in  his 
manufa(fture. 

Should  it  be  required  to  know  from  whence  comes 
the  eafinefs  of  circumftances  fo  general  in  England, 
independent  of  the  foil  and  pofition,  and  the  advan- 
tages of  that  liberty  which  reigns  there,  it  refults 
from  the  confideration  attached  to  indullry  in  the 
opinion  of  the  public;  from  the  laws  fure  protet^ion 
accorded  to  every  individual  againft  the  agents  of 
government;  and  the  haughtinels  and  infolence,  to 
which  they  are  naturally  inclined  (becaufe  in  men  of 
llencier  education  thefe  are  the  effect  of  power,)  be- 
ing 

*  The  goodnefs  of  thing*!  maniira£tured  is  fo  generally  rcqui- 
fite  in  England,  that  nierchandizes  deftined  for  exportation 
are  thcie  diftingui/hrd  fV'  rn  thofe  for  interior  confumpticn. 
There  are  great  warehoules  wherein  the  faiei  ire  for  exportation 
only  ;  the  objeA  of  otheis  is  interior  confumpiion.  People  who 
judge  haftiW  concludp- from  hence,  that  thofe  for  exportation  are 
badly  manufactured.  They  are  dect^ived,  the  difference  is  in 
the  choice  of  materials.  The  Engmshman  spares  no- 
thing FOR  THAT  WHICH  HE  CONSUMES.  Thcvvoikman- 
/hip  i&  the  fame  ;  it  would  coft  in  general  more  to  marufacEturcrs 
to  have  two  forts  of  workmanfii'p,  a  good  and  a  Lad  one,  than  to 
have  one  only  which  is  goodj  and  a  manufadlure  cilabiifhed  upon 
a  bad  kind  of woikrnaiifhip  would  foon  be  decried.  A  ihoe  def- 
tlned  to  foieign  ccminerce  is  as  well  made  as  another  ;  but  it 
dots  not  lait  io  long,  becaufe  the  leather  is  not  chofcn  from  the 
bcft  kind  ;   and  foof  thereit, 

■j-  A  memorable  expreflion  of  TIcnry  the  fourth  of  France, 
who,  in  a  conveifation  with  his  f<  vourite  Sully,  faid,  he  hoped 
to  fee  the  time  when  the  poorcfl:  <  f  his  Tal  je(5\s  would  have  it  in 
tLcjr  power  to  put  a  fowl  into  th«  f  ot  tV>r  tlifiir  Sundaj'i  dinner. 


II 

fri 

dil 

w| 

01 


UWITEO  STATES  OF  AMEIcICA.  4^' 

itig  continually  reprefled,  and  their  being  preventeri 
from  trampling  upon  the  citizen,  who  muft  be  obc* 
dient.  He  is  obedient  to  the  law,  and  not  to  him 
who  puts  it  in  execution.*  In  fine,  it  is  the  confe- 
quence  of  not  blufhing  to  be  a  tradefman,  artificer^ 
or  workman,  froin  father  to  fon. 

In  France  there  are  individuals  exceffively  rich; 
but  the  people  are  poor.  The  firft  have  it  in  their 
power  to  pay  extremely  dear  for  articles  of  luxury 
and  fancy,  which  caufe  an  improvement  of  manu* 
fadtures  of  this  kind.  Finer  cloths,  as  it  has  bee.i 
before  obferved,  are  to  be  found  in  France  than  in 
England;  but  their  quantity  is  not  great,  becaufe  there 
is  not  an  extenfive  demand  for  thofe  of  the  firlit 
quality. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  property  of  the  people 
being  very  inconfiderable,  they  pay  badly,  an<l  the 
confequenceis,  that  things  ofconveniency  or  necef- 
fity  are  badly  rnanufa6lured  for  them. 

I  will  not  here  enter  into  the  examination  of  cJtufey 
which  occafion  fiich  a  (late  of  things,  nor  of  the 
means  of  changing  it.  I  will  leave  the  difcuffion  of 
fuch  means  for  another  chapter;  but  the  following 
conclufions  mufl  neceflarily  be  drawn  from  thefe 
fa<fls:  the  perfedion  of  manufactures  depends  upon 
the  demand,  and  the  demand  upon  the  means  of 
payment.  Now,  becaufe  the  French  have  not  thofc 
means,  they  muft  be  fought  after  in  ^  foreign  coun- 
try* 

*  Thee  and  thou,  as  termj  of  contempt,  are  unknown  In 
Engla-nd  :  Sir,  is  the  general  defignation  of  every  individual. 
A  man  accufed  of  the  greatell  crimes,  and  who  has  the  nnioft 
mirerable  appearance,  is  never  fpoken  to  in  the  fingular  num- 
ber when  he  is  interrogated  by  his  judges  j  and  as  he  becomes 
an  objedl  of  pity  when  he  is  convidled,  decent  aiipellation*,  ge- 
nerally in  ufe,  are  not  changed  with  refpeft  to  him.  Can  one 
fuppofe  that  this  refpeft  for  man  is  prejudicial  to  public  prof- 
pcrity  ?  Man  is  elevated  by  it;  it  gives  him  energy,  and  inclines 
him  to  cafe.  Contempt,  which  in  other  places  is  aflfeftcd  fo# 
(he  pfiDplcj  leads  them  to  mifery,  and  retains  thein  in  It* 


•'•'■u:i 


.•■'Y  'M 


wmn 


[•'a!     It 


i  "11 


j^  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

try.  Increafe  foreign  demands  for  French  manufac- 
nires,  and  they  will  be  feen  to  improve  very  rapid- 
ly. This  is  the  effefl  which  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States  will  produce  in  France.  Tiiefe  States 
contain  a  people  acciillomed  to  be  well  clothed,  to 
make  ufe  of  well  manufactured  thin[;s  only,  and  ca- 
pable of  paying  for  good  workmanlliip  by  their  pro- 
duftions.  Charged  with  the  furnifliing  of  articles 
for  American  confumption,  French  manufafturers 
will  drive  to  outdo  their  rivals;  and  they  can  eafily 
accompHfli  this  -ivhcn  Government  JJiall  be  ivilUvg.  Na- 
ture has  given  them  tiie  means.  They  will  become 
fuperior  in  almoft  every  thing  when  once  they  fliall 
no  longer  be  obftinately  counteracted. 

Therefore,  the  commerce  with  the  United  States 
"will  be  the  caufe  of  improvement  in  French  cultiva- 
tion and  induftry.  Confequently  it  is  neceflary  to 
embrace  and  purfue  it. 


«*ti( 
*'  thi 


(( 
(( 


is 
ri( 


CHAPTER  IV. 

That  the  Utiited  States  are  obliged  by  their  prefent  "Necef' 
Jities  and  Circumjiancss  to  engage  in  foreign  Commerce » 

OOME  writers,  among  whom  are  found  the  cele- 
brated Dj*.  Price,  and  the  Abbe  Mably,  have  exhort- 
ed the  indepenc  ent  Americans,  if  not  to  exclude  ex- 
terior conmierce  entirely  from  their  ports,  at  leaft 
to  keep  it  within  very  contra6\ed  bounds.  They 
pretei;d,that  the  ruin  of  republicanifm  in  the  United 
States  can  happen  only  from  exterior  commerce;  be- 
caufc  by  great  quantities  of  articles  of  luxury  and  a 
frivolous  tafte,  that  conmierce  would  corrupt  their 
rriorals,  and  without  pure  morals  a  republic  cannot 
cxift. 

"  Alas ! 


^'(i  'I 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  47 

"  Alas!  what  can  the  United  States  itnpovt  from 
*'  Europe,  continues  Dr.  Price,  except  it  be  infec- 
"  tion?  I  avow  it,  cries  the  Do6lor,  I  tremble  iu 
**  thinking  on  the  furor  for  exterior  commerce,  which 
"  is  apparently  going  to  turn  the  heads  of  the  Ame- 
"  ricans.  Every  nation  fpreads  nets  around  the 
"  United  States,  and  careffes  them,  in  order  to  gain 
"  a  preference;  but  their  interefl  cautions  them  to 
"  beware  of  thefe  fedu^lions."* 

I  am  far  from  contradicting,  /;/  iis  hajis^  the  opinion 
of  thefe  politicians.  Moreover,  I  think,  with  Dr. 
Price,  that  the  United  States  will  one  day  be  able  to 
produce  every  thing  neceflliry  and  convenient;  but  I 
am  alfo  of  opinion,  tliat  thefe  two  writers  have  con- 
Udered  the  independent  Americans  in  a  falfe  point  of 
view;  that  they  have  not  fufficientlyobferved  the  ftate 
of  their  circumftances;  in  fine,  that  their  circum/iances 
and  adual  luants  oblige  them  to  have  recourfe  to  foreign 
commerce.  L^his  is  a  truth  which  I  propofe  to  de- 
monflrate;  for  I  will  prove  that  the  independent 
Americans  are  in  want  of  the  necefTaries  and  con- 
veniencies  of  life,  and  in  fome  Hates,  oi  luxuries, 
and  that  their  habits  and  nature,  added  to  other  cir- 
cumftances, will  always  prevent  their  renouncing 
them  entirely. 

I  will  prove,  that  having  no  manufactures,  they 
cannot  themfeWes  fuppJy  thefe  wants,  and  that  they 
can  have  no  manufactures  for  a  long  time  to  come. 

That  although  they  already  poflefTed  them,  they 
ought  to  prefer  to  national  ones  thofe  of  exterior 
commerce,  and  that  they  fliould  rather  invite  Euro- 
peans 

*  Price's  Obfervations,  page   76.     See   the    Abbe   Mably, 
v;hat  he  fays  of  thefe  obfervations,  from  page  146  to  page  163. 
See  alfo  what  the  Count  de  Wlrabeau  has  added  to  the  Obftir- 
vations  of  Dr.    Price,  in  his  Reflexions  printed  at  the  end  of 
his  tranflation  of  this  work,  p.tgc  319.     London  edition,  1735. 

He  has,  as  a  feverc  pp-iiofopher,  treated  on  exterior  com». 
mei-cc,  and  made  abftrai^iion  of  tl^e  aClual  fituutlon  of  the 
Americans. 


I'     i'f'i 


.©N  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

pcans  to  thcT  ports  than  frequent  thofe  of  the  Euro- 
pean ftates. 

Finally,  that  by  the  fame  reafon«which  makes  it 
impoflible  to  exchide  exterior  commerce,  in  cafe  of 
wants  which  alone  it  can  fupply,  it  is  equally  fo  to 
fix  its  boundaries. 

When  the  nature  of  man  is  attentively  confidered, 
it  .is  feen  that  it  inceflantly  difpofes  bim  to  render 
his  life  agreeable.  If  he  has  a  property,  he  ftrives 
to  improve  it;  if  the  foil  he  cultivates  be  fruitful, 
and  demands  but  little  in  advance,  the  deiire  of  in- 
creafin.g  his  enjoyments  ftimulates  him  to  torture  his 
land  to  draw  from  it  its  various  productions.  One 
idea  put  in  practice  gives  birth  to  another;  one  want 
fatisfied  creates  a  fecond,  to  have  tlie  pleafure  of  fa- 
tisfyingthis  alfo.  Such  is  the  nature  of  man  ;  his 
aftivity,  which  leads  him  fromdefires  to  enjoyments, 
from  one  change  to  another,  is  the  fource  of  wiiaL 
are  called  manufadures.  A  manufatfture  is  but  the 
means  of  giving  to  a  produtlion  of  the  earth,  a  forni 
which  adds  to  it  a  new  degree  of  agreeablenefs  and 
utility.  Want  and  defire  of  manufaftures  are  there- 
fore in  the  nature  of  man;  fo  that  if  we  funpofed 
Europe  entirely  annihilated,  manufa(5lures  would 
foon  rife  up  in  America,  becaufc  each  individual 
llrives  to  render  his  Sxilience  r^giv cable  by  means  the 
moft  fpe.cdy  and  effic  icious.  ■ 

Manufa(flures, 


*  Perhaps  tl>c  charafter  and  life  of  lavages,  who  are  fup- 
pofed  to  liave  no  manufa(ilures  among  them,  will  be  oppofed  to 
thefe  reafonings?  Men  are  deceived  in  judging  thereby  j  fot 
thefe  people,  which  we  look  upon  as  only  one  degree  removed 
from  a  ftate  of  nature,  work  up  and  manufa^ute  the  earth's 
produftions.  Thus  from  iheir  corn,  before  it  is  ripe,  they  ex- 
tract a  gelatinous  juice,  with  which  they  make  palatable  cakes. 
Therefore,  before  the  arrival  of  Etiropcans,  they  knew  how  to 
make  fermented  liquors,  t<  ols,  utenfils,  arms,  ornaments,  &c. 
T/iey  ..  nfined  themfclves  to  thefe  j  lumting  took  them  from  a 
f?<ientary  life,  and  .did  not  give  them  time  enough  to  extend  their 


H 


.^»« 


VNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  4.9 

Manufac^iires,  like  the  wants  of  civilised  men, 
may  (as  was  obferved  in  the  laft  chapter)  be  divided 
into  three  clalTes:  ift.  tliole  of  necellity ;  2  i.  t'jofe 
oi  convenience;  3d.  thofe  of  fancy  or  luxury.  Food, 
and  the  natural  exigencies  of  mankind,  are  compre- 
hended in  the  firft  clafs. 

It  is  from  the  wants  of  convenience  efpecially, 
that  manufarliures  have  their  origin.  Without  doubt, 
fkins  ot  flisep  were  fufficient  to  defend  men  from 
the  feverities  of  cold;  a  cabin  or  a  hut  frc;m  the  in- 
temperature  of  the  atmofphere;  bat  man  is  no  fooner 
prefcrved  from  one  evil  than  he  feeks  to  get  rid  of 
another.  Skins  arc  infufceptible  of  beijig  well  join- 
ed together;  ufe  makes  them  hard;  a  cabin  is  frequent- 
ly thrown  down,  is  confined  and  fmoaky;  wheri'.e 
arife  the  wants  of  convcniency,  which  are  transform- 
ed into  enjoyments,  whofe  accuftomcd  ufe  changes 
them  into  neceflities. 

When  man  has  every  convenience,  he  then  thinks 
of  ornament.  Hence  the  wants  of  Inxurv  ;  thev  are 
entirely  in  the  imagination,  and  procure  imaginary 
pleafures  only.  Therefore  to  wear  any  laced  clothes, 
or  drink  coffee  out  of  a  china  rather  than  a  deifen 
cup,  is  a  want  created  by  luxury  iv  fancy. 

The  nature  of  thefe  three  kinds  of  want  being 
pointed  out,  it  is  neceffary  to  know  what  thofe  of  the 
Americans  are  They  have  the  two  firft  of  them. 
Their  habitudes  contra6led  in  their  infancy  from 
European  emigrants,  and  their  commerce  witli  the 
Englifli,  have  accuftomed  them  to  the  kind  of  life  and 

F  taftc 

The  paftoral  life  of  the  Arabians  "has  conduflcd  them  one  ot 
two  degrees  farther  in  the  art  of  maniifacluiing,  becaufc  ia«- 
ktml  of  life  affords  greater  leifure,  and  gives  more  uniform  ni 
condant  prodiidions.  ThoC'.  fhe^herds,  whofe  riches  confirt  bat 
in  their  flocks,  and  who  live  on  milk  alone,  and  are  clothed 
with  their  wool  o;.ly,  hav*  a  palfionate  defjre  for  cofter,  flierbet, 
and  fugar.  The  defire  of  increafing  their  enj.)yaient3  is  the 
<;aufe.  Le-t  it  be  therefore  agreed,  that  mm  by  his  nature  is 
iacliued  to  c;)J3ynaeac,  aiiJ  confc^aentiy  li  minufuclure-. 


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ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  TH» 


tafte  of  the  latter,  and  it  is  well  known  that  Englifti 
indnftry  has  been  particularly  dirc6led  to  neceiTary 
and  ufsful  arts. 

The  independent  Americans,  at  leaft  thole  who 
inhabit  great  maritime  cities,  have  borrowed  from  the 
Englifh  a  talle  for  luxuries;  they  feek  for  gauzes, 
blond  lace,  filks,  See.  It  is  however  with  pleafure  I 
obferve,  that  if  this  tafte  of  modes  has  infe6le'i  Lon- 
don within  thefe  few  years,  its  ravages  have  not  been 
extended  with  the  (anje  rapidity  in  the  United  States 
as  in  Europe.  Their  fituation,  aullere  religion, 
morals,  and  ancient  habits,  their  rura!  or  marine  lifcj 
prevent  their  feeking  after  elegance  and  drefs,  and 
keep  them  from  oftentation  and  voluptuoufnefs.  Al- 
though they  may  perhaps  be  changed  a  few  degrees, 
the  evil  is  not  yet  fenfible,  at  leaft  in  the  Northern 
States  *  Therefore  our  obfervations  ought  princi- 
pally to  reft  upon  the  two  firft  clalFes  of  wants.  Now 
it  is  impoflible  that  the  Americans  fhould  ever  re- 
nounce them;  they  will  be  perpetually  led  and  at- 
tached to  them  by  their  nature  and  habitudes,  and 
by  the  manner  in  which  thr"r  population  is  in- 
crea  fed. 

By  their  nature,  becaufe  they  are  men;  and  it  has 
been  proved,  that  man  is  endowed  with  that  af  ivity 
which  perpetually  difpofes  him  to  add  to  his  enjoy- 
ments. 

By  their  habitudes,  becaufe,  as  it  has  been  ob- 
fervt^d,  they  contracted  that  of  all  thofe  wants;  and 
it  is  well  known,  that  a  tafte  for  pleafure  is  not  to  be 
exterminated  when  rooted  by  habitude.  How  can 
it  be  'ecjui-ed  of  man  to  deprive  himfelf  of  wine  and 

liquors 


■.;>Mnv 


ry  i;j  cer    Irly  to  be  found  In  Virginia  ;  and  when  we 

fpeal-  ot  \\iX'"y  w' :ti  rcTpij^ft  to  free  America,  it  is  neccffary  to 
dillingii'fii  ■.  efuliy  the  Southern  f;oin  the  Northern  States-j 
Cihc-i  from  ounfy  5  maricirar  cities  from  interior  one*^.  By 
'.h-iC  diftindi  ins  many  contrarieties  in  tiic  account  o^  fupcriiciaij 
Udvei  eri  ma)  le  e^plalijcd. 


'ifcj 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMES.ICA.  5  I 

Ifquors  to  which  he  is  accuftomed,  and  in  which  he 
places  a  part  of  his  enjoyments,  except  we  would 
render  him  unhappy  ?  I  will  not  quote  hermits,  fick 
perfons,  or  philosophers,  who  have  had  that  empire 
over  thenifclves;  but  let  not  a  like  prodigy  beexpefl- 
eti  in  a  whole  nation.  An  alTociation  of  three  mil- 
lions of  philofophers  has  not  yet  been,  nor  will  be 
{ecu  to  confine  themfelves  to  the  regimen  of  Pytha- 
goras,* or  the  diet  of  Cornaro. 

Tlie  feveve  facritice  often,  which  tlie  independent 
Americans  made  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  will 
perhaps  be  alfo  quoted.  The  enthufiafm  of  liberty 
and  influence  of  example  were  able,  during  lome 
time,  to  overcome  their  habitudes ;|  as  religious  en- 
thufiafm has  combated,  fometimes  fuccefsfully,  the 
palfions  of  an  hermit.  But  there  is  no  caufe  power- 
ful enough  to  produce  a  like  effect,  except  in  the 
crifis  which  makes  the  facrifice  necefiary  and  eafy. 
The  reafon  of  the  dependence  in  which  the  Ameri- 
cans would  put  themfelves  with  refpe£l  to  the  Eu' 
ropcans,  and  the  fear  of  diltant  corruption,  are  mo- 
tives too  feeble  to  carry  nien  to  that  point  of  heroifml 
It  is  not  fulficiently  demonllrated  to  them  that  they 
cannot  drink  wine  from  Madeira  without  being 
fome  day  corrupted  by  it,  and  without  preparing 
the  way  for  great  calamities. 

The  manner  in  which  population  is  renewed  and 

F  2  increafed 

*  It  is  not  that  we  ought  not  to  b;lleve  that  one  of  the  great 
means  of  regenerating  the  olil  people  of  the  Continent,  and  of 
fupporting  republicanifm  in  the  United  States,  would  be  to  give 
to  children  fuch  an  education  as  Pythagoras  exerciicd  at  Croto- 
na.— See  the  Life  of   Pythagoras. 

-f-  It  is  afTured  that  abilincnce  from  tea  was  not  every  where 
faithfully  obferved,  which  appears  very  probable  oa  leflcd^ing 
that  there  was  a  party  which  fain  would  have  violated  it.  I 
have  known  fcvcfal  perfons  whom  the  deprivation  of  tea  had 
made  ill  for  a  long  rime,  although  they  had  tried  illufive  means, 
hy  fub{ll!;ut!n2  the  Infufion  of  .igreeable  fimples  for  that  of  tJkc 
tca-kaf. 


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increafcd  in  America,  ciocs  not  make  it  probable 
that  its  inhabitunts  will  t.-ver  be  able  to  renounce  the 
want  of  Enropean  productions. 

A  prodigious  number  of  individuals  emigrate 
every  year  from  all  parts  of  Europe  to  America^ 
who  carry  with  them  wants  and  inclinations  whicU 
they  have  from  education  and  habit.  If  they  find 
them  in  America,  they  continue  to  gratify  them ; 
if  they  are  unknown  there,  they  naturalifc  them, 
and  it  is  the  nril  thinp:  thev  2:0  about;  Wr  thcv  do 
not  fo  much  perceive  tiie  new  pl'iafures  they  are  <;o- 
ing  to  enjoy,  as  thofe  of  which  they  are  deprived  j 
fo  great  is  the  force  of  our  firfl  habits  and  cuOoms. 
Remembrance,  although  frequently  mixed  with  the 
cruel  idea  of  fervitudc,  abandons  m?n  in  the  grave 
onlv. 

According  to  this  inclination,  natural  to  all  men. 
Jet  the  immeufe  variety  of  wants  and  appetites  be 
calculated  which  are  going  ^o  tranfplant  thenifelves 
from  Europe  to  the  United  State:;  and  let  it  be 
judged,  whether  it  be  poliible  to  put  bounds  to  or 
den"roy  them.  * 

To  fucceed  in  this,  it  would  not  only  be  necef- 
farv  to  fiiut  out  foreign  conmierce  from  all  thcAme- 
rican  ports;  American  induftry  mufl  be  cfrcumfcrib- 
cd, ;'  idtlie  fourcf  of  their  wants  flopped  np;  it  would 
"be  necefTary  to  imitate  the  Lacedemonian  law,  which 
ordained  that  nothing  fliould  be. worked  up  but  with 
the  heavv  hatchet,  the  moreefi"e(^uallv  to  banifh  the 
luxury  of  elegant  furniture.  In  a  word,  a  miracle 
mull  be  operated  upon  the  Americans,  to  take  from 
them  all  remembrance  of  what  they  have  been,  of  all 
they  have  feen,  fmelt,  or  tafted ;,  and  the  fame  en- 
chantment mufl  deprive  European  emigrants  of  their 
Ideas;  2?  it  would  be  abfurd  to  hope  for  a  like  pro- 
digy, the  force  of  things^  which  drags. the  indepen- 
dent Americans  into  exterior  commerce,  muO;   be 

fubmiuetl 


\ 


UNITED  STATES  OF    AMr.RlC.\. 


55 


'■      Kf' 


\ 


fiibmitted  to."*-     Ail  is  retluced  to  two  words :  Ame- 
rica has  wants,  and  Europe  has  manufaAures. 

In  the  United  States  Ibmeof  the  inhabitants  fill  up 
the  lei  Aire  afforded  by  agriciiUure  (in  which  the  liii- 
ropeans  cannot  hoj^e  to  become  their  rivals)  with  aii 
attention  to  manufavftnres.  And  they  ha\'e  others 
confined  to  the  mofl  neceiTary  arts;  connected  with 
cultivation,  fiflieries,  and  the  conflruftion  of  vefiels. 
But  even  thefe  manufii6tures  are  but  few  in  number, 
and  infufficient  for  the  wants  of  the  United  States. 
They  are  therefore  obliged  to  have  recourfe  to  Eu- 
rope. It  is  not  that  they  neither  have,  nor  can  have 
almoft  all  the  raw  materials  employed  in  our  own 
manufaftures.     They  have  hemp,  flax  and  cotton. f 

But,  if  they  had  raw  materials  in  plenty,  they 
ought  to  be  advifed  not  to  eflablifli  ma-nufachires ;  or, 
to  fpeak  more  juflly,  manufafiures  could  not  be  efta- 
blijhed ;  the  nature  of  things  ordains  it  fo.  Let  us  dif- 
cufs  this  qucftion,  as  it  is  an  important  one. 

F  3  There 

*  It  Is  with  regret  that  I  write  this  fa£l,  on  confukiing  it 
phllofophically,  but  it  appears  to  have  been  dcmoniirated  poli- 
tically. No  perfon  wiflies  more  tlian  I  do  to  fee  the  United 
States  feparate  themfclves  from  all  'he  world,  anil  in  this  fitua- 
tion  to  find  again  the  lufterity  of  the  Spartan  rci^imen,  with- 
out it»  cruel  principles  of  military  difpnfition.  It  would  be  a 
fmart  ftroke  in  politics;  but  this  unhappily  is  no  more  Lhan  a 
dream. 

^  The  four  Southern  States  gather  great  quantities  of  cot- 
tont  Their  poor  are  clothed  with  it  winter  and  fummer.  In 
winter  thsy  wear  cottjn  {hlrts,  and  clothes  of  wool  and  cotton 
mixed.  In  fummer  their  /hirts  ai^  linen,  and  their  outward 
clethes  of  cotton.  Women's  drtfs  is  entirely  of  cotton,  and 
made  up  by  themfclves,  wom^n  of  the  richeil  clafs  excepted  j 
yet  a  woman  of  this  clafs  has  a  deal  of  cotton  worked  up  ia 
her  houfe,  and  this  callico  equals  in  beauty  that  of  Kurope. 
Thofe  from  the  South  furnilh  a  deal  of  cotton  to  the  States  of 
the  North,  which  cannot  grow  it,  thf^clii-nate  being  too  cold. 

The»-e  is  ftarcely  any  part  oi  the  United  States  without  good 
flour  and  faw  mills.  The  Northern  States  have  others  for  flat- 
tening iron.  It  is  in  the  conftrudlion  of  mills  efpeciaily,  thaC 
the  Americans  diftinguifh  themfclves,  jn  varying  their  enn]»loy 
and  utility,  aaJ  in  their  diiliibution* 


(  ,'< 


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54  O^  THE  COMMERCE  OV  THI 

There  arc  many  reafons  for  men's  engaging  in  a 
new  country  in  agriculture  rather  than  in  manufac- 
tures. There,  where  two  individuals  can  eafily  live 
together,  they  marry,  fays  Montefquieu.  The  la- 
bour of  the  field  offers  to  them  more  means  of  living 
together,  of  augmenting  and  fupporting  their  fami- 
ly, than  working  at  manufactures:  in  thefe  the  de- 
pendence of  the  workman,  his  precarious  and 
changeable  ftate,  his  moderate  wages,  and  the  high 
price  of  provifions  in  cities,  where  moft  manufac- 
tures are  eftabliftied,  put  it  out  of  his  power  to  think 
of  having  a  companion  ;^  and  if  he  has  one,  the  prof- 
peft  of  mifery  which  flie  mufl  have  before  her  eyes 
after  his  death,  impofes  on  him  a  law  contrary  to 
propagation,  to  avoid  the  cruelty  of  caufing  children 
to  be  brought  into  the  world  only  to  be  unhappy.'* 

In  a  new  country  where  land  is  not  dear,  where  it 
requires  not  much  in  advance,  or  an  expenfive  cul- 
tivation, and  is  at  the  fame  time  fruitfuly  the  num- 
ber of  little  and  happy  families  muft  rapidly  increafe. 

What  a  difference  in  other  refpeCts  from  this  pure 
and  fimple  country  life,  where  man  is  conftantiy  in 
the  prefence  of  nature,  where  his  foul  is  elevated  by 
the  fpe£lacie,  where  his  phyfical  principles  continu- 
ally regenerate  by  a  falubrious  air,  and  in  reviving 
exercifes,  where  he  lives  in  the  midft  of  his  relations 
and  friends,  whom  he  makes  happy :  whata  difference 
from  that  to  the  life  of  manufa(fturers  condemned 
to  vegetate  in  difmal  prifon.^,  where  they  refpire  in- 
fe6lion,  and  where  their  mi  ids  are  abforbed,  as  well 
as  their  lives  abridged !    This  condu<^  alone  ought  to 

decide 


/ 


\ 


*  Journeymen  manufa£lurers,  and  in  general  n>en  in  a  ftate 
of  dependence,  whofe  fubfifttnce  is  precarious,  and  who  have 
children,  certainly  love  them  lefs  than  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  who  have  a  fmail  property.  The  paternity  is  a  bur- 
th«n,  and  confequently  often  odious  to  the  firftj  their  children 
are  ignorant  of  the  foft  carefles  of  paternal  love.  "What  kind  of 
generation  mud  arife  from  fuch  a  conne£lion4 


/ 


\ 


UWITIDiTATlS  OF  AMEtlCA.  ^^ 

decide  the  Americans  to  rcjc^  the  painful  (late  of 
manufactures,* 

Bcfides 

•  The  idea  of  property  is  one  of  the  ftj-ongcft  ties  by  which 
man  is  attached  to  life,  to  his  country,  to  virtue,  and  I  will 
add  even  to  health.  The  fathfa^ion  of  a  manufafturer,  who 
at  the  end  of  the  weeic  has  a  guinea  in  his  pocket)  is  far  from 
that  of  the  little  countr>  proprietor,  who  is  feidom  pofreifcd  of 
fuch  a  fum}  but  who  gathers  in  his  own  field  every  thing  ne- 
ceHTary.  He  loves  it,  fees  it  always  with  pleafure,  takes  care 
of  its  cultivation,  and,  by  a  coniequence  of  this  fofc  difpofi- 
tion,  he  attaches  himfelf  to  the  animals  v/hich  a(!ift  him  in  i.h<it 
cultivation. 

The  labourer  fees,  as  he  woibs,  the  pofTihility  of  inereafing; 
the  number  of  his  children;  and  he  has  the  pieaiing  hope  of 
leaving  them  after  his  death  a  little  corner  of  earth  which  will 
ketp  them  from  indigence. 

The  labourer  is  happy  beraufe  his  contrafls  are  with  the 
earth  only,  which  gives  liberally  and  difintereftedly,  whilft  the 
intered  of  the  mailer  who  pays  the  manufacturer  embitters  the 
wages  which  he  receives. 

The  labourer  is  ft'.ll  happy,  becaufe  he  is  only  amongd  his 
equals;  inequality  is  the  fource  of  malice.  The  fuperior  is 
malicious  to  fupport  his  oppreiTion*  The  Have  is  vindi^Ive  ta 
deftroy  and  revenge  it. 

The  labourer  is  amiable  and  generous,  becaufe  it  would  be 
necelTary  to  abandon  all  cultivation,  if  there  was  not  between 
huibandmen  a  reciprocity  of  fcrvices  and  confidence. 

Ferhaps  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  prove  that  health  and 
goodnefs  are  diminished  in  proportion  to  the  increafe  of  manu- 
/adures,  citiei,  property,  and  the  defertion  of  rural  life  ;  and 
that  vices  and  crimes  are  increafed  in  the  fame  proportion. 

This  is  not  the  opinion  of  the  fenfible  and  interefting  author 
of  the  Study  of  Nature;  •*  When  I  was  at  Mofcow,"  fays  he, 
(V«l.  III.)  *<  an  old  Genevois,  who  was  in  that  city,  in  the 
«*  time  of  Peter  I.  told  me,  thatfince  different  means  of  fub- 
**  fiftence  had  been  opened  to  die  people  by  the  eftabliihment  of 
•*  manufafturcs  and  commerce,  feditions,  affafliaations,  rob- 
**  beries,and  incendiar;e8,had  been  lefs  frequent  than  formerly.'* 
But  this  would  net  have  exi.led,  and  there  would  have  been 
the  fame  public  and  private  virtue,  if  inflead  of  making  the 
Ruillans  manufacturers,  tiiey  had  been  made  proprietors  of 
lands.  Huibandmen  are  honed  people,  fays  M.  de  St.  Perre 
himfelf.— And  workshops,  as  I  have  juft  obfcrved,  do  not  offer 
that  neceflity  of  reciprocal  fervice  which  gives  the  habitude  of 
goodnefs }  they  prefeiit  interell  ftiuggling  againil  intereft,  rich 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)S72-45C3 


^6  OK  THli  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

Befides  there  will  be,  for  a  confiderable  time  to 
come,  more  to  i-e  gained  in  the  United  States,  by  the 
earth,  v/hich  viekTs  abundantly,  than  bv  manufac- 
tures — ^nd  man  places  himfelf  in  that  fituation  where 
the  greateft  and  moft  fpeedy  gain  is  to  be  acquired. 

As  population  muft,  for  many  ages,  be  difpropor- 
tioned  to  fhe  extent  of  the  United  States,  land  will 
be  cheap  there  during  the  fame  length  of  time,*  and 
confequently  the  inhabitants  will  for  a  long  time  be 
cultivators. 

Thofe  whom  ambition,  thiril  of  gain,  or  igno- 
rance, fhould  incline  tocftablilh  manufaftures,  will, 
from  that  moment,  be  difbanded  from  it  by  the  dear- 
nefs  of  worknianiliip.    This  dearnefs  is  already  very 

confider- 

tnd  indolent  ftupidity  ftnving  to  cheat  aflive  indigence.  If 
worklhops  do  not  make  m^n  rafcals,  they  difpcfe  them  to  be- 
come foj  they  make  them  egotifts)  infenflble,  uncouth,  and 
bad  fathers. 

Therefore,  the  fa£t  quoted  by  this  author  does  not  prove, 
that  to  prevent  crime:,  it  is  ncceitary  to  eftabll/h  manufac- 
tures j  but  that  it  is  better  to  have  manufaAures  peopled  with 
degraded  vkroikmen,  than  foreds  with  banditti  j  it  ii»  a  lefTsr 
evil,  but  ir  ;:  (lill  an  evil. 

*  An  idea  of  the  price  of  lands  in  the  United  States,  may 
be  formed  from  the  following  article  taken  from  the  Gazette  of 
Philadelphia,  of  9th  of  December,  1784:  **  Obferve  that  the 
"  ground  of  Pcnnfylvania  begins  to  be  dear,  and  that  the  inha- 
*'  bitants  bejjin  to  emigrate  to  Kentucky."— .By  this  adverlKe- 
ment  there  are  offered  to  falc,  **  25,000  acres  of  land,  fituated 
**  in  the  county  of  Northampten,  State  of  Pennfylvani!*,  upon 
**  the  DeLware.— -A  piihlic  road,  a  navigable  river,  fertile  foil, 
**  excellent  for  culture— meadows— places  for  mills— great  fo- 
**  refts— plenty  of  fifli-pcnds,.  &c.  at  half  a  guinea  an  acre* 

•*  Another  qur.ntiy  of  45,'  co  acres,  upon  the  Sufquehannah, 
*•  with  equal  and  even  greater  advantages,  at  the  fame  price— 
'*  Good  title  Jeed^j—facMitics  of  payment,— A  referve  of  three 
**  hundred  acres  only  will  be  required  in  each  diftrtA  for  the 
**  maintenance  of  the  clergyman  of  the  parifli  j— ©ne  hundred 
*' guineas  when  iherefhall  be  fifty  familiep,  to  build  a  parfonage 
**  houfe — ten  guineas  a  year  for  five  years,  and  prOvifion  fw 
••  the  fchool-mafter." 


/ 


-I  ^-  m 


0 

e 


/ 


XyNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  ^7 

confiderable,*  and  mav  become  ftill  more  fo,  as  the 
caufe  which  occafions  it  niuft  naturally  become  more 
extended. 

What  is  the  caufe ?  It  has  already  been  intimated 
fc  as  to  be  forefeen. 

Cities  are  built  in  all  quarters  ;-|'  lands  are  cleared 
and  eftablifliments  made  every  where.  In  the  ftate 
of  Kentucky,  for  inftance,  where,  in  1771,  there 
were  fcarcely  one  hundred  inhabitants,  there  are  now 
nearly  thirty  thoufand;  and  thcfe  men  have  emigrat- 
ed from  inhabited  coafts  or  countries.  Thus  hands 
are  taken  from  the  commerce  and  agriculture  of  thefc 
laft,  which  is  confequently  the  caufe  of  the  increnf- 
ed  price  of  workmanlhip. 

rrom  this  dearnefs  it  has  been  concluded  in  Eu- 
rope, that  the  people  in^Amerlca  were  wretched;  a 
contrary  conclufion  ought  to  havp  be:;n  drawn. 
Wherever  workmen  govern;  wherever  they  are  paid 
a  high  price,  the  people  are  neceflarily  happy;  for 
it  is  of  them  that  the  various  clafles  of  workmen  are 
compofed. 

On  the  Contrary,  wherever  workmanfliip  is  at  a 
low  price,  the  people  are  wrefched;  for  this  cheap- 
nefs  proves  that  there  are  more  workmen  than  there 
is  work  to  execute,  more  want  of  employ  than  can 
be  fupplied.  This  is  what  the  rich  defirc,  that  they 
may  govern  the  workmen,  and  buy  the  fweat  of  their 
brows  at  the. lowed  rate  poflible.J 

It 

*  Three,  four  and  five  livres  are  frequently  paid  in  the  cities 
«f  the  United  States  for  the  day's  work  of  a  caipenter,  biaclc>- 
Cmith,  ice. 

f  This  Is  a  great  evil,  as  will  be  hereaficr  proved,  and 
v^hich  will  contribute  more  than  any  other  to  the  ruin  of  re- 
publican fpiritc 

X  To  be  convinced  of  this  truth,  look  at  England  and  Frahce  \ 
workmanfhip  is  very  dear  in  London  but  cheap  in  Paris.  The 
workman  in  London  is  well  fed,  clothed  and  paid  }  in  Paris  he 
is  quite  the  contrary. 

**  It  frequently  happens,"  faid  an  American  one  day  to  mr, 
<<  that  I  meet  in  the  United  States  a  ploughman,  conducting  his 


K^K'^ 


!   I 


I      JS 


Htl 


l!^ 


^  VS  THtl  COMftTERCE  OF  THE 

It  IS  the  revcrfe  in  America,  the  workman  givej 
the  law,  and  fomuch  the  better,  he  receives  it  too 
often  every  where  elfc. 

This  dcarnefs  of  workmanfliip  is  prejudicial  to 
manufa6h3res,  and  dill  fo  much  the  better.  Thefe 
eftabhfhments  are  fo  many  tombs  which  fwallow  up 
generations  entire.*  Agriculture,  on  the  contrary, 
perpetually  increafes  population. 

By  preventing,  or  at  lead  retarding  the  rife  of  ma- 
nufactures within  their  provinces,  the  Americans 
will  (lop  the  decadency  of  morals  and  public  fpirit : 
for  if  manufactures  bring  gold  into  the  States,  they 
bring  at  the  fame  time  a  poifon  which  undermines 
them.  They  rcfemble  a  number  of  individuals  whofe 
nature  and  morals  are  at  once  corrupted  :  they  form 
and  accuftom  men  to  fervitude,  and  give  in  a  repub- 
lic a  preponderance  to  ariltocratical  principles,  and 
by  accumulating  riches  in  a  fmall  number  of  hands, 
they  caufe  republics  to  incline  to  ariftocracy. 

Therefore  the  independent  Americans  will  do 
wifely  to  leave  to  Europe  the  care  of  manufaCluring 
for  them,  becaufe  (he  is  irre(iftibly  dragged  into  ma- 
nufaftures;  and  as  their  population  and  confumption 
muft  rapidly  increafe,  it  is  not  impoflible  that  Eu- 
rope may  one  day  con(ine  herfelf  to  this  kind  of  oc- 
cupation, and  that  America  may  one  day  become 
her  ftorehoufe  of  grain  and  raw  materials,  of  which 
ilie  will  not  be  in  need.     In  this  cafe  nothing  will 

be 


'be 


riav 


poi 
the 


**  plough  and  horfes,  arvd  eating  a  wing  of  a  turkey  and  a  piexe 
'*  of  good  white  bread.  I  have  Teen,"  added  he,  '*  a  vffl'el  arrive 
**  at  New-York,  full  of  Scotchmen,  not  one  of  whom  was  un- 
<*  employed  the  next  day," 

*  There  arc  fcveral  manufafturcs  at  Amiens,  and  it  is  re- 
marked, that  the  hofpitals  are  more  Klled  with  nnanufafturers 
than  with  mafons  or  other  like  artizans.  A  manufacturing 
life  makes  more  people  ill  and  their  complaints  more  dangerous  | 
it  is  becaufe  this  kinil  cf  woikmen  becomes  fooner  debauched^ 
and  goes  fooner  to  the  Kcfpital,  being  moftly  finglc,  and  without 
liny  uomeiVic  attachment. 


o 

o 

e 


tTNITEDSTATBS  OF  AMERICA.  f^ 

be  feen  in  Europe  but  cities  and  workfhops;  in  inde- 
oendent  America  nothing  but  fields  well  cultivated, 
V  will  leave  it  to  be  decided  which  country  would 
have  the  mod  happy  fate. 

Under  the  fame  point  of  view,  the  independent 
Americans  will  ftill  aft  wifely  by  leaving  it  to  the 
Europeans  to  furnifh  them  with  neceflary  articles ; 
and  in  feldom  frequenting  the  cities  and  fea-ports  of 
the  ancient  continent.  In  efFe£t,  an  European 
tranfported  to  independent  America  is  in  the  pro- 
portion of  one  to  one  hundred,  and  fometimes  to  a 
thoufand. — His  example  has  therefore  but  very  little 
influence;  the  luxury  of  which  he  makes  a  parade 
in  paffing  by,  excites  lefs  confideration  or  refpeft 
than  contempt  and  ridicule.  If  he  leaves  a  remem- 
brance of  himfelf,  it  is  foon  effaced  by  the  general 
motion :  there  are,  moreover,  fome  Europeans, 
who,  ftruck  and  edified  by  the  manners  and  cuf- 
toms  of  free  America,  have  good  fenfe  enough  to 
refpedt  and  conform  themfelves  to  them. 

It  is  the  reverfe  when  an  American  goes  on  fhore 
in  Europe,  almoll  alone,  with  his  fimphcity  of  man* 
ners  in  the  midft  of  a  vorte;?.  of  men  who  efteem  the 
eclat  of  exterior  appearance  only ;  who,  agitated  and 
led  by  the  general  ton,  facrifice  every  thing  to  the 
furor  of  making  a  great  figure  by  the  brilliance  of 
drefs,  equipage,  and  pomp:  this  American  mud  at 
firft  be  torn  down  and  tormented,  becaufe  he  finds 
himfelf  thrown  into  a  circle  of  habitudes  contrary 
to  his  own.  Afterwards  he  becomes  familiarifed  by 
little  and  little,  and  if  he  does  not  quite  get  a  tafte 
for  them,  at  lead  his  attachment  to  a  fimplicity  of 
life  and  manners  is  necelTarily  weakened.  Carrying 
back  with  him  to  his  own  country  this  difpofition  of 
mind,  he  introduces  it  infenfibly  into  the  minds  of 
thofe  who  are  about  him,'upon  which  it  has  fome  in- 
fluence— upon  the  minds  of  his  children;and  friends. 
Their  tafte  for  fimplicity  becomes  lukewarm  by  bis 

example, 


■M 


IVI 


1    .;i 

I 


l; 


^im 


60  OK  THE  COMMSRC£  OF  TUI 

example,  and  the  following  age  fees  public  virtue* 
fall  into  indifff^ence. 

It  will  be  lefs  dangerous  to  the  public  fpirit  of  the 
independent  Americans  to  admit  the  Euroj  eans  into 
the  United  States,  than  to  go  themftlves  into  Euro|>e; 
from  which  it  refults  that  it  would  be  very  impolitic 
to  encourage  the  former  to  become  the  carriers  of 
theirexterior  commerce. 

I  have  infilled  upon  this  refle<^ion  becaufe  there 
feems  to  have  appeared  in  fome  States  a  difpofition 
to  give  premiums  for  diflant  navigation.  They 
oughi  to  reflect,  that  they  have  but  rew  hands,  and 
that  as  few  as  poffible  fliould  be  taken  troni  culture. 
They  are  in  the  fituation  I  have  fpoken.of  in  my 
principles  of  exterior  commerce,  where  a  nation 
gains  by  making  carriers  of  others  having  lefs  foil  or 
employ.  They  (hould  alfo  recollect,  that  republi- 
can morals  are  better  preferved  in  the  bofom  of  agri- 
culture than  upon  the  fea  and  in  foreign  voyages, 
which  give  to  men  communications  with  other  mo- 
rals and  governments. 

It  is  a  general  queftion  in  the  United  States,  by 
what  means  it  is  polhble  to  put  b<')unds  to  exterior 
commerce,  and  flop  the  progrefs  of  luxury  :  flay  at 
home, — cultivate,  cultivate,  I  will  repeat  to  them  ; 
tills  is  the  fecret  whereby  you  will  prevent  the  in- 
creafe  of  luxury;  a  fecret  much  preferable  to  fump- 
tuary  laws  and  prohibitory  regulations,  which  fomc 
ilates  have  it  in  contemplation  to  make. 

There  is  no  power  great  enough  to  fet,  by  regula- 
tions, fuch  boundaries  to  exterior  commerce  as  will 
not  be  exceeded :  to  circumfcribe  it,  for  inflance,  to 
merchandizes  of  convenience,  without  the  importa- 
tion of  thofe  of  luxury.  The  nature  or  force  of 
things  only  has  fuch  a'  power.  That  force  has,  as 
has  been  before  explained,  tlie  union  of  the  natural 
circumftances  of  a  nation  ^  thefe  circumftances  alone 
mark  the  limits  of  commerce.    A  nation  which 

cannot 


I!  I   ; 


VNITED  STATU  OP  AMIMCA.  -Ol 

xannot  pay  for  luxuries  with  its  own  produftion, 
does  not  purchafc  them.  The  favage  can  only  pro- 
cure with  his  furs,  brandy,  gunpowder,  and  woollen 
coverings ;  he  buys  neither  (ilks  nor  laces. 

If,  therefore,  the  productions  of  the  United  States 
be  fcarccly  fuiiicient  to  pay  for  the  importations  of 
necelFity  and  co;wenience  fi-om  Europe,  merchan- 
dizes of  luxury  will  not  be  imported :  if  thefe  be 
carried  to  it,  'tis  becaufe  it  can  pay  for  them.  There 
is  no  merchant  who  likes  to  ruin  himfelf. 

If,  on  the  contrary,  the  United  States  have  pro- 
ductions proper  for  the  ancient  continent,  in  quan- 
4:lties  fumcient  to  procure,  by  their  exchange,  not 
only  the  molt  neceiTary  and  convenient  things,  but 
even  thofe  of  luxury,  nothing  can  hinder  the  latter 
from  being  fooner  or  later  imported,  by  means  of 
<xterior  commerce. 

In  truth,  to  incrfiafe  demands  of  this  nature,  the 
^public  opinion,  which  before  treated  opprobrioufly 
a  tafte  for  modes,  muft  totally  change,  and  the  par- 
ticular opinions  of  certain  fe^s  equally  yield  to  it. 

But  notwithftanding  the  powerful  influence  of 
opinion  upon  merchandizes  of  luxury,  the  fate  of 
^bis  kind  of  commerce  will  be  more  particularly  de- 
termined by  the  ftate  of  the  independent  Americans, 
for  when  rich  they  will  adopt  them.  This  faCt  will 
appear  certain,  if  what  has  been  faid  on  the  nature 
of  the  human  heart  be  recolle£ted,  and  its  inclina- 
tion to  improve  man's  iituation,  and  to  increafe  his 
enjoyments. 

Tafte  for  a  rural  life  alone,  if  the  Americans  prc- 
lerve  it,  will  retard  the  progrefs  of  luxury,  which 
fprings  up  in  cities,  from  iatiety,  want  of  fomcthing 
to  do,  and  from  latitude;  employment  preferves  the 
country  from  thofe  moral  ills. 

There  is  one  laft  confideration,  which  ought  to 
perfuadc  the  independent  Americans  to  employ 
tUemfelves  in  cultivation,  and  r(j^  both  mannfac- 

G  tures 


m  HI 


'if 


6a 


PN  THE  COMMfRCE  OF  THE 


tiiresand  exterior  tranfports;  which  is,  that  In  wj-fli- 
ing  to  untlertake  every  thing  at  oiice,  the  fcarcity  of 
money,  neceflary  at  'eaft  for  the  mechanical  part  of 
ihefe  operations,  will  always  be  more  perceived, 
whilft,  by  giving  themfelves  up  entirely  to  cultiva- 
tion, they  will  procure  frotp.  their  foil  proc!u<5lion3 
fufficient  to  pay  for  thefe  manufactures  from  Europe, 
and  to  make  up  for  the  fcarcity  of  coin.* 

They  appear  to  he  alarmed  at  this;  what  has  been 
faid  upon  the  fubje6t  ojf, money  ought  to,  remove  their 
fears.  It  has  been  demonftrated  that  a  nation  may 
carry  on  a  very  confiderable  commerce  without  its 
aid.  It  will  hereafter  be  feen  that  the  United  States 
produce  many  raw  materials  eflentially  neceflary  to 

France, 

*  The  independent  Amcrlcins  }i3ve  but  I'ttla  money  j  this 
fcarcity  anfcs  from  two  caufes ;  fuft,  from  the  kind  of  com- 
jnerce  they  heretofore  carried  on  wiih  Englancf,  and  aftcrwarda 
from  the  mvjges  of  a  feven  years  war.  As  this  commerce  was 
purely  one  of  exchange,  and  that  in  certain  (lta(e^,  as  Virginia, 
the  importations  always  furpalied  the  exportation^  j  the  relult 
^as,  that  thry  could  not  but  be  dcbtois  to  England,  and  could 
not  draw  money  from  that  iiland. 

It  was  a  kind  of  commercial  fervitude,  which  the  Eng!ifli 
looked  upon  as  the  pledge  and  guarantee  of  the  dependence  of 
the  Colonics  upon  the  mother  country, 

The.money  they  had  came  from  their  illicit  commerce  with 
the  SugHr  Iflands  and  Europtan  povieis.  The  war,  afttrwards, 
by  charging  laboyrers  into  foldieis,  c^ufed  a  part  of  their  lands 
to  remain  without  cultivation.  From  that  time  exclianges  in- 
creafed  and  money  decreafed.  The  little  of  it  remaining  in 
An.erica,  calne  firll  frorb  money  cnrricd  and  ex^eneed  thcie  by 
the  Engl i Hi  and  French  aimies,  and  afteiwards  by  the  loans  ne- 
gociated  in  Eu'ope  by  Cot  grcfs. 

But  it  iseafy  to  conceive,  after  what  has  been  faid  upon  the 
quantity  of  coin,  how  a  nation,  which,  by  an  extraordinary 
revoluiion,  ii  all  at  once  widely  dcveh  ped,  its  pcpii^arion  ra- 
pidly increafed,  and  is  therti  y  «.bPgfd  to  C(  ntinual  advances, 
for  clearing  of  lands,  fur  luuding,  making  of  roaHs  ani  caiials^ 
to  pay  foreign  debts,  moftly  in  fpec'e,  and  which  has  no  mines, 
muft  feel  the  fcarcity  of  money,  and  the  rcaf<'n  i-  .t  is  clear: 
the  want  of  it  is  atprefeui  fupplie.',  in  Connecticut,  by  an  ^K- 
charge  of  commodities,  or  tLefc  ig«inft  labour. 


S 


of 

of 


USflTED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  63' 

Ann^e,  and  that  (he  can  make  their  exports  with 
greater  advantage  than  thofe  of  any  other  country. 

Thus  it  ajjpears  that  thefe  two  countries  mr.y  carry 
on  together  a  direct  trade  of  exchange  without  mo- 
ney, confcquently  an  advantageous  one;  for  the  ex- 
change between  them  of  produ<^ions  is  more  lucra- 
tive than  an  exchange  of  productions  for  money; 
although  this  opinion  may  not  be  adopted  by  men  in 
genera!,  who  attach  a  greater  price  to  gold  thaii  to 
jiierchandize,  and  continually  forget  its  reprefentn- 
tivc  value,  to  fubftitute  for  it  a  real  one.  It  nuilt  be 
incefflititly  repeated  to  them  that  money  u'ouid  l^c 
ablblutely  nothing  without  produdions;  that  a  rieli 
people  is  that  which,  by  its  induflry,  increafcs  })o- 
pulation,  and  has  confcquently  an  abundance  of 
produftionsj  that  the  fecret  of  inCreafing  the  quan- 
tity of  coin  confifts  only  in  the  art  of  multiplying 
nectiHiry  productions,  and  it  is  this  to  which  the 
United  States  ought  to  incline,  without  being  anxious 
cibout  the  money  which  they  may  have  at  prefent  or 
in  future. 

Let  us  refume  the  different  queflions  contained  in 
this  chapter. 

My  object  has  been  to  make  it  appear  that  the 
United  States  were  forced  by  their  ncceflity  and  cir- 
cumftances  to  engage  in  exterior  commerce. 

To  convince  my  readers  of  this,  1  have  proved 
that  the  independent  Americans  had  wants  of  nc- 
cellity,  of  convenience,  and  even  fome  of  Juxury, 
which  they  could  neither  renounce  nor  fifpply  thcm- 
felves  with. 

That  having  no  manufactures  of  their  own,  they 
were  obliged  to  have  recourfe  to  thofe  of  Europe : 
that  they  could  eftablifh  none  for  a  long  time,  having 
but  few  hands,  and  that  cultivation  ought  to  employ 
all  their  cares. 

That  according  to  phyfical,  political,  and  moral 
relations,  they  ought  to  pcrfevere  in  applying  tliem-' 

G  s  fclves 


'1^  IS 


m 


I 


"  m 


•■arim'-r—  iiin 


ih 


64  Oir  TUt  COMMERCE  OF  TUB 

felves  to  agriculture  alone,  and  even  give  up  aN 
thoughts  of  tranfporting  to  Europe,  by  their  own 
means,  their  proper  produAioiis. 

That  this  was  tlie  only  means  of  preferving  their 
republican  morals,  and  of  retarding  the  progrefs  of 
luxury. 

In  fine,  that  by  engaging  in  agriculture,  and  ne«-. 
gle^ling  manufaaures,  they  will  lefs  perceive  thf 
Want  of  money,  and  will  find  the  means  of  fup- 
plying  that  want,  and  of  carrying  on  a  very  advant 
tagcuus  exterior  commerce  of  exchange  of  commo- 
dities. 

Thefe  different  pomts  being  firmly  eftablifhed,  it 
IS  at  prcfenl  nccelTary  to  prove,  that  of  all  the  nations 
of  Europe,  France  is  the  moft  proper  to  enter  into 
a  commercial  alliance  with  the  United  States,  and 
that  their  ncceflities  and  produftions  are  correfpon- 
dent  to  each  other.  It  is  propofed  to  lay  open  this 
truth,  by  prefenting  the  double  table  of  reciprocal 
impoTtatiom  an<i  exportatrons,  to  be  made  between 
France  and  free  America, 


'     If; 


CHAPTER  V. 

Of  tie  LnpwimtUm  to  ht  maJt  from  France  tnt9  t^t^ 
United  Stately  or  of  the  J^y^ts  of  the  United  States^ 
and  the  Produiliam  (f  France  which  correfpond  thereto, 

A  H  E  attentive  reader  will  have  already  been  able 
to  judge,  that  if  the  independent  Americans  do 
not  deviate  from  the  career  which  is  open  to  tbem, 
Europe  will,  for  a  longtime,  have  to  furnifli  them 
with  manufa<5lured  merchandize.  It  has  been  made 
to  appear,  that  the  clearing  and  cultivation  of  lands, 
and  all  that  relates  to  interior  commerce,  fuch  as 
roads  and  canals,  offered  to  their  induftry  the  moft 

favourable 


n 


WITBD  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  6^ 

fiivourable  and  ufeful  employ,  efpecially  whilil  im' 
polls  do  not  reilrain  their  movements,  and  that  a 
fret  conftitution  equally  honours  every  individual. 

It  is  now  necefTary  to  take  a  curfory  view  of  their 
wants,  and  to  point  out  thofe  articles  with  which 
France  may  pretend  to  furnifh  them  in  competition 
with  other  nations,  if  even  (he  cannot  do  it  more 
advantageoufly  than  her  rivals.  I  will  follow,  in 
this  enumeration,  the  Englifh  publications  which 
have  treated  upon  the  matter,  and  particularly  thac 
of  Lord  Shtffield:  he  has  omitted  nothing,  becaufe 
his  country  pretends  to  furnifh  every  thing. ^ 

SECTION  I, 

Wine  becomes  a  real  want  of  thofe  who  have 
oAce  been  acquainted  with  it.  Ha^py  or  miferable, 
rich  or  poor,  every  body  makes  ufe  of  wine.  Wine 
is  the  delight  of  the  happy  or  of  the  rich :  it  helps 
the  unfortunate  to  fiipport  his  forrow;  the  poor 
think  they  find  it  an  equivalent  for  the  food  they  are 
without, 

fiafe  has  lately  been  too  general  in  the  United 
States,  not  to  have  introduced  the  ufe  of  wine  ;  and 
futurity,  by  augmenting  their  means,  will  only  in- 
creafe  their  want  of  this  liquor. 

The  wines  which  were  moft  generally  confumed 
in  the  United  States,  were,  as  in  £ngland,  Oporto, 
Madeira,  and  fome  from  Spain.  French  wines, 
charged  as  in  Britain,  with  enormous  dutiei,  were 
introduced  by  contraband  only. 

Liberty  hascaufed  thofe  Britannic  (hackles  to  dif- 

G  3  appear. 

*  I  will  not  defeend  to  tlie  minutis  K\%  Ldrdftip  has  done, 
but  I  wilt  prove,  in  every  important  article,  the  French,  \i 
they  know  how  io  proiit  by  their  natural  advantages,  muft  06- 
Cain  a  prefcrcacft 


•I 


0 


66  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

appear.     French  witip^  arc  frtciy  imported  into  the 
United  Statcb,  and  pay  bui  .»ttlf  duty. 

Such  iii  the  (^ate  ot  things,  and  it  lead:*  me  to  the 
dicuflioii  of  three  qucflions: 

Docs  it  luit  I'ic  United  States  to  cultivate  vines, 
and  to  make  wine? 

Ought  they  not,  in  renouncing  this:  cultivation, 
to  give  the  prefertnce  to  Fruu  li  wines? 

And  what  means  ought  the  Frcr.ch  to  ufe,  in  ordcf 
to  obtain  and  prcl'erve  this  preference?     ,  .;  i 

It  would  he  abfurd  to  deny  that  the  United  States 
can  produce  wine,  becaufe  the  experiments  iiitherto 
inawie  havt  been  fruitlefs.  Extended  as  they  are,  and 
having  countries  as  fouthern  as  Europe,  it  is  im- 
pofijUle  ihffre  fliould  not  be,  in  many  places,  a  foil 
pWDper  for  the  vine. 

The  little  faccefs  of  attempts  may  therefore^ 
without  ha^rJing  too  much,  be  attributed  eitlier  to 
the  ignorance  of  the  cultivator,  his  want  of  perfe- 
verance,  or  a  bad  choice  of  plants. 

However  that  mav  be,  if  the  Americans  will 
hearken  to  the  counfels  of  able  obfervers,  and  reap 
advantage  from  the  errors  of  other  nations,  they 
vill  carefully  avoid  the  cultivation  of  vines.  In 
every  country  where  they  have  been  cultivated,  for 
one  rich  man,  they  have  made  a  number  wretched. 

The  long  and  confiderable  advances  which  vines 
require,  the  preparation,  prefervation,  and  fale  of 
their  produce,  have  put  all  the  good  vineyard  plots 
into  the  hands  of  rich  peopje,  who  not  cultivating 
thefe  themfelves,  pay  the  real  cultivator  very  badly. 
The  falary  of  the  wretched  vine-drelTer  is  every 
where  inevit^ly  fixed ;  the  time  he  does  not  work 
wot  being  calculated,  and  few  wine  countries  ofFer 
any  employ  by  which  loft  time  may  be  filled  up;  and 
otherwife,  the  variations  in  the  prices  of  the  moft 
lieceflTary  commodities   occafioncd   by  a  thoufand 

'.  caufes, 


! 


rs, 


tKlTED  STATES  OF  AM£ftICA.  6) 

caufeif  by  tnc  ab4in^l\iv  e  or  even  fcarcity  of  wine^ 
are  lOt  coiifider-d  for  l.im. 

Would  it  be  bclif  vcd,  that  abiinduncc  is  the  inoft 
unforiunalc  thing  that  cm  happen,  cither  lu  the  f)ro- 
prieturor  the  v'nc-drefler?  In  fn*^.  thecxpencc  of 
gathering  aui^ments,  and  the  price  of  t!;e  thing  di- 
miiiidies.  Tucre  is  more  w  )i  k  to  be  (\(n\e^  more 
hands  are  ncccflary,  and  they  arc  paid  m  )re  wa^es; 
moro  hogilieads  are  wanted,  ilie  ex()ences  of  carriage 
grenter,  more  fpace  is  required,  the  falc  is  lefs,  and 
confeqiicnliy  the  income.* 

The  fcarcity  nt  wines,  or  the  ftcriiity  of  the  vine- 
yard, is  perhaps  lefs  unfortunate  than  the  abundance, 
at  Icall  to  the  proprietor.  But  it  is  cruelly  felt  by 
the  vjne-drefler,  and  thofe  vvanderin;2;  troo})sof  day 
labourers^  whom  the  ingratitude  of  their  foil,  or  a 
bad  government,  forces  to  go  from  home  in  fearcli 
of  employ. 

The  numerous  variations  which  have  an  influence, 
upon  the  produce  of  the  vineyard,  make  it  very  in- 
convenient property,  and  triflingly  advantageous. f 

The 

• 

♦  The  (Jay's  work  of  a  vintager  varies  accor.^mg  to  the  fcarcity 
«r  abuniance  of  wine,  from  fix  to  fifty  fols.  The  price  of 
hogfh»ads  has  llkewife  vaiiations  In  a  differenc  price,  frort 
three  to  fifteen  livres.  There  are  years  wherein  the  price  of 
theh)gfhead  is  h'^hcr  than  .h.it  of  the  wine  which  it  contains. 

The  jjfoprietor  who  eftabl'fhss  hl«  expences  upon  his  reve- 
nues, is  every  year  deceive^!  by  thofe  of  the  vineyard.  In  one 
Jear  he  receives  at  the  rate  of  lo  for  loo ;  the  fecond  year  his 
vineyard  ii  perhips  deltroyed  by  hail  j  the  third  he  is  expofed 
to  bankrupcy,  or  to  fuffer  by  it,  or  his  uines  turn  four  j  the 
fourth  he  may  have  but  a  moderate  produce,  which  will  not 
COmpenfate  for  his  prceJing  lofTes.  3n  ten  )car3  tiiTie  a  |)ro- 
prietor  would  fCarcely  find  an  average  year  which  wis  toleribly 
pood  }  yet,  'as  men  love  to  exaggerate  their  riches  and  means, 
each  proprietor  calculates  his  revenue  upon  the  higheft  produce 
that  his  vineyard  has  ever  yielded  J  the  greateft  part  of  them 
fpend  in  confcqjence,  and  are  mined. 

•j-  It  is  a  p.overb  in  France,  that  there  is  no  property  worf» 
tonditioned  than  ihat  of  the  vineyard. 


m 


t  if  J 
'4' 


U 


63 


OK  TH£  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


The  return  muft  be  waited  for  when  much  has  been 
gathered;  payments  muft  be  made  when  there  has 
been  but  little  The  proprietor  muft  therefore  have 
other  refources,  whether  it  be  to  wait  or  to  pay. 
The  vine-drefler,  unhappy  enough  to  have  a  pro- 
perty,* without  any  of  thefe  refources,  ruins  him- 
felf  •  fooner  or  later.  Fe  is  obliged  to  fell  at  a  low 
price, t  or  to  confume  his  wines  himfelf ;  thence  re* 
fuits  his  ftupidlty  and  idlenefs,  his  difcouragement»- 
his  dull  and  quarrelfome  humour,  and  efpecially  the 
ruin  of  his  health.  Too  much  wine  in  the  time 
of  abundance,  no  bread  in  that  of  fcarcity;  thefe 
are  the  two  alternatives  which  divide  his  life. 

Therefore  countries  covered  with  vineyards  are 
generally  lefs  peopled,  and  prefent  a  picture  of  a  de- 
generated, weak,  and  wretched  population.  For  the 
moft  part  they  want  hapds  to  cultivate  the  vineyard 
in  a  feafon  when  work  cannot  be  delayed.  It  is> 
dotii:  by  thefe  bands^  of  ftrangers,  of  whom  I  have 

already 

*  The  fituation  of  a  Tinc-dreflcr  ii  dlfTerent  according  to  the 
•'uftom  of  countries.  In  Tome  he  is  hired  only  by  the  diy,  and 
there  he  is  compfetely  wretched.  In  others,  as  in  Switzerlandf 
he  has  half  of  the  produce.  But  an  unjutl  and  tyrannical  tax, 
laid  on  by  the  proprietors  themielves,  reduces  this  half  to  a 
quarter  part. 

■f-  Such  is  nearly  the  fituation  of  moft  of  t^he  vine-diefTera 
of  AoMS,  who  are  proprietors.  They  are  at  the  mercy  of  the 
rich  farmers  of  chat  country.  When  winter  comes,  the  vine« 
drefler  has  neither  bread  nor  money.  He  goes  to  the  farmer^ 
aflcs  him  for  both:  the  farmer  fays  I  will  accommodate  you, 
give  me  your  note.  The  buihel  of  wheat  Is  Worth  ux  livres, 
oblige  yourfelf  to  return  me,  at  a  certain  epocha,  the  quanti- 
ty of  wheat  which  Ihall  be  old  for  fix  iivres.  He  always  takes 
care  to  fix  the  time  when  worn  is  at  a  low  price*  The  oblija* 
tion  is  paiTed,  the  moment  of  payment  arrives)  the  vine-dreuer, 
who  has  corn,  gives  more  than  he  has  received*  if  he  has  none^ 
he  is  ftill  more  embarrafled  ;  the  farmer  preflse  him—you  have 
wine,  fays  he,  fell  it  me.  But  at  what  price  ?  The  farmer  of- 
fers a  very  low  one.  It  is  refufed— he  threatens— th".  poor  vine- 
drefler  it  ob'  ged  (0  ruia  himfelf,  and  thU  fceae  is  annually 
repeated. 


tflfrrED  STATB8  OP  AMBltrcA.  ^; 

tlready  fpoken,  and  who  come  to  fell  feme  days 
work  to  the  poor  vine-drelfer. 

The  cultivation  of  a  vineyard  cannot  be  better 
compared  than  to  tbofe  manufactures,  of  which  the 
hopes  of  fuccefs  are  founded  upon  the  low  price  oF 
workmanfliip,  and  which  enrich  none  but  the  under- 
takerS)  and  retailers  or  ihopkeepers. 

The  pernicious  influence  of  the  vine  is  extended, 
in  wine  countries,  to  even  thofe  who  do  not  cultivate. 
It;  for  the  cheapnefs  of  wine  leads  to  excefles,  and 
confequently  it  becomes  a  poifon  for  all  ranks  of 
fociety,  for  thofe  efpecially  who  find  in  it  a  means  of 
forgetting  their  forrows. 

Thercibre,  as  I  have  already  remarked,  induftry 
cai'cfU'Uy  avoids  theie  dangerous  vineyard  plots.  None 
of  the  great  manufa<flures,  whofe  fuccefs  is  the  con* 
fequence  of  order^  affiduity,  and  labour,  arc  feenin 
the  nciglibourhood  of  them. 

The  refult  of  all  thcfe  obfervations  is,  that  the 
Americans  ought  to  profcribe  the  cultivation  of  the 
vine. 

I*^  would  infallibly  render  miferable  that  clafs  of 
fociety  which  fliould  apply  itfelf  to  it,  and  in  a  re* 
public  there  fliould  be  none  who  arc  wretched,  be- 
caufe  want  obliges  them  to  difturb  civil  order,  or, 
what  ii  .vorfe,  becaufe  they  are  at  the  command  o£ 
the  rich,  by  whom  they  are  paid,  and  who  may  make 
ufe  of  them  to  deftroy  rcptiblicanifm.* 

Confidered  with  refpe^^  to  the  proprietors,  the 
vine  c;:ght  ftili  to  be  profcribed  b)  the  United  States; 
becaufe  every  profeflion  or  calling,  fufceptible  of 
too  great  a  variation  of  fortune,  which  fometimes 
heaps  up  riches  to  one  perfon,  and  at  other  reduces 
to  indigence  individuals  in  eafy  ci. cum  fiances,  oughk 

carefully 

*  The  mean  language  of  fliopkcepers,  who  humbly  ofl^er 
tV.cir  merchandize^  has  alrt^d^  begun  to  find  its  waj  into  thft 
American  papers 


f 


LS.'i 


I'.j 


I 


% 


ii 


Jb^  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

GarefuUy  to  be  avoided. — Economy,  fimplicity,  pri'J- 
vate  virtues,  are  not  attached  to  fuch  changeablcnefs.' 

They  are  found  in  the  bofom  of  mediocrity  only, 
irom  eafinffs  of  circumftances,  founded  upon  thalf 
kind  of  toil  whofe  produce  is  conftant.*     Such  is 
that  of  agriculture  in  general ;  it  embraces   divers 
produ<5iions,    which,    in  caie  of  accident,  replace*- 
t3ich  other. f 

Finally,  if  it  be  infixed  that  wine  is  necclTiiry  to 
man,  let  it  not  fluj)ify  him  ;  it  fiiould  be  tifed  with- 
moderation,  and  its  dearnefs  alone  n^ay  oblige  men 
to  be  moderate  in  the  ufe  of  it.  It  being  greatly  the 
jntereft  of  the  American  Republics  to  remove  all 
excelTes  from  individuals,  in  order  to  prevent  this 
degeneracv,  they  ought  to  keep  perpttiially  at  a  dif- 
tance  from  them  u  production,  whofe  dearnefs  will 
prevent  the  abule  ofil,  whofe  cultivation  would 
render  it  cheap,  and  confequently  bring  on  dangerous 
excciles  both  to  policy  and  n;orals.J 

Ihc  catalogue  which  I  havejuft  gone  over,  of  the 
evils  and  abufes  occafioned  by  the  culture  of  vines, 
will  not  induce  the  French  to  pull  up  theirs.  But  it 
ought  at  leaft  to  tKcite  them  to  increafe  in  foreign 

markets- - 

*  The  Indians  are  almoft  all  cultivators  or  wiavcre,  which 
js  the  reafon  why  private  morals  have  been  better  prefcrvcd 
among  thefe  people  than  any  where  elfe,  in  fpUe  of  the  exceli'cs 
of  defpotifm*  • 

•)'  What  recempence  would  he  confiderable  enough  for  an  in- 
genious man,  \^ho  luould  give  to  humanity  ihe  natins  of  pre- 
fcrving  potatoes  for  feveral  years,  efpccially  if  the  procefs  Acre 
iimple  and  not  expenfive  f  In  that  cafe  want  would  be  nj  longer 
feared.  The  embarraflmtti»t  about  the  Icgillition  of  corn  would 
dtfappear,  and  mifery  perhaps  be  driver!  f-om  among  men. 

J  It  will  be  oijefted,  that  men  emrloyeo  in  agticukure  have 
nier*  <  r  wine  to  fu[;port  them  in  their  iaboiir.  This  is  but  an 
opinion  :  there  are  found,  in  countries  where  it  is  leaft  ufed, 
vigorous  anfi  indefatigable  men.  In  truth,  wine  contains  an 
aftive  fpiiit  which  may  fupply  the  want  of  fubftantial  aliment, 
and  it  is  for  <hi6  reafjn  the  peafanls  have  rscourfc  to  wine  or 
brandy,  which  is  ir'.re  xvitliin  their  reach.  Give  ih;m  meat 
aad  potatoej,  and  ihey  wall  eafily  do  without  wine. 


I 


e.  * 


:n 


UlfiTEt)  STATES  OP  AM8RICA.  '^ 

U'larkets  the  coiifumption  of  wines,  in  order  to  keep 
up  their  price,  and  confequently  to  diminifli  a  part 
of  tiie  evils  which  they  produce.  This  will  be 
doubly  adv^  uai^eous,  by  an  additional  exterior  pro- 
fit, and  a  diminution  of  interior  ill.  Nobody  will: 
deny  that  French  wines  muft  obtain  the  preference 
in  the  Unitt^d  States  They  are  the  moft  agreeable, 
the  moll  varied,  an^^i  wholefome,  if  moderately  ufed; 
the  le-^ft  prejudicial,  if  ufed  to  ex.cefs.  They  ought 
to  be  the  bails  of  our  exportations  to  America;  no 
nation  can  raife  a  competition  with  us.  Lord  Shef- 
field liimfelf  pays  tiiis  iiomage  to  our  wines;  but  in 
order  to  aiTurc  to  them  this  advantage  for  ever,  the 
art  f)f  making,  preferving,  and  tranfporting  them 
muft  be  improved. 

Jn  general  we  are  at  prefent  far  from  this:*  igno- 
rance, old  prejndices,  difcouragement  of  the  people, 
impoft  on  exportation;  all  concur  to  retard  the  pro- 
grefs  of  imprfjvement. 

The  United  States  (thefe  dates  of  fo  new  a  date) 
already  furnifh  us  the  model  of  an  iuft'tution,  wh^ch 
alone  would  encourage  the  culture  of  corn  and  vine§, 

and 


*  I  wUI  quote,  for  inft;ince,  the  wines  of  Provence,  which, 
hy  the'i!  (length,  ought  to  be  ca'a.tle  of  fiipp^tiiig  the  longeft 
voyages;  an  i  bv  their  analogy  fo  t\\t  wines  of  Prrtuj->1,  would 
have  the  gr-'itel  fuccefs  in  tht  UnT^ti  Stores,  if  they  vcre  pro- 
perly prepare*.  Thefe  wines  havj  hiMierto  been  in  the  iovVefl: 
icpute  'n  thr  North,  in  the  Indian  an  !  American  colonies;  and 
that  becauCe,  on  one  hand,  the  fitfer?  out  of  veflVis  brought 
them  without  chocfing,  anM  on  the  '^rh-'r,  the  rndivl  'uai  having 
no  idea  of  the  k;ultur«  of  vine-,  noi  of  the  preparation  of  wine, 
mixed  the  wh'fe  (^rape  witf  the  red,  V'  \  not  di^tngni/h  ihe  plants, 
th«  foil  nor  fjioatiori;  cured  it  by  rcte,  without  pajinp  atten- 
tion to  ttie  difference  of  years  an^  qmtitiesj  put  into  hio  tubs^ 
to  i^ive,  as  he  p.rt'  n^'cil,  a  higher  fljvor.r  ro  his  w:n<»,  all  f^rts 
of  deieAable  iOjire'Jients,  fuch  as  I'.ilt,  lime,  p'aifter,  and  pigeon's 
dung;  pur  "t  into  ha  1  cafks  of  chefo.ut-free;  left  in  them  a  year's 
fcdlment,  aid  "ever  drew  off  the  w'ne,  fo  ihat  't  was  always 
more  inclned  to  turn  fnir  han  aiiy  othci-  wipe,  and  therefore 
iKcamc  little*  fit  for  a  foreign  voyage. 


I  ^  I 


^  OH  THB  COMMBRCt  XfT  THt 

and  make  the  momentary  inconvenience  of  abundant 
•vintages,    which  ruin  the   proprietor  and  farmer, 
diiappear. 

This  inftitution,  enfy  to  be  naturalized  in  France, 
>would  have  two  branches,  a  depofit  in  the  public 
magazines  of  the  productions  of  the  earth;  certificate 
or  billets  of  depofit  which  would  form  an  authentic 
title  for  the  diipofing  proprietor,  transierable  without 
formalities  at  the  current  price,  like  all.other  public 
effects. 

It  is  thus,  that  in  Virginia  means  have  been  found 
•to  fupply  the  want  of  money,*  and  to  give  at  the 
time  of  reaping,  a  real  and  ufeful  value  to  tobacco, 
which,  without  that,  waiting  for  a  demand,  lies 
heavy  upon  the  proprietor. 

This  is  not  the  place  to  examine  this  idea  pro- 
ibundly,  neither  to  deftroy  the  obje<ftioiis  which  will 
be  madeagainftit.  Tlvis  projeCi  may  conftitute  tlie 
-matter  of  a  memoir  by  itfelf.  I  give  here  nothing 
more  than  the  title^f 

People 

•  The  Virgmiani  have  g'ven  another  example  which  proves 
how  eaTy  it  is  to  do  without  money*  Many  countries  near  to 
the  Ohio  having  none  of  it,  the  general  anVmbly  refulved,  they 
ihould  pay  their  quota  of  imports  in  hemp  and  flax>  which  Hiould 
be  depofited  in  the  public  magazines. 

•f-  If  it  were  wiflied  that  thii  projeft  Hiould  fucceed,  it  wouW 
be  abfolutely  necefl'ary  to  pue  away  all  poflibility  of  an  abufe 
unpuni/hed.  It  would  perhaps  be  neceHary,  that  government 
fhould  take  no  part  nor  have  any  influence  in  it.  This  precau- 
tion will  be  exclaimed  againA  ;  but  let  us  once  more  call  our  eyes 
Upon  England.  If  there  be  a  government  upon  earth  whofe  hands 
are  tied,  whofe  (leps  are  watched,  whofe  actions  are  brotught  to 
light,  to  public  cenfure,  and,  corfcqueiUly,  whofe  feciet  attrn^pts 
are  lefs  to  be  feared  by  the  pct;p!e,  it  is  that  of  England,  tee 
what  the  aAoniihing  MinifUr,  who  ii>  now  at  the  head  of  aflfairs, 
propofes  to  hinder  the  intervention  and  influence  of  the  Engliih 
govermnent  in  the  n«;w  plan  of  redemption  of  the  public  effe6>i 
and  of  their  decreafe.  He  inllils,  that  the  commiflioners  who 
ihall  be  charged  with  it,  (hall  be  always  inoeperxient  of  govern- 
jneot)  that  they  ihaii  be  public  agents,  and  that  no  force  ihaH 


ii 

■iif  I 


VNITEJ)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


73 


Veople  in  the  United  States  complain  of  an  abufe 
in  the  commerce  of  the  French  wines,  which  abufe 
it  is  of  importance  to  remedy  in  the  mod  fpeedy 
manner,  if  we  would  not  dellroy  the  commerce  in 
its  origin.  Illicit  commerce  produced  there  before 
the  revolution  good  Bourdeaux  wine,  becaufc  it  is 
ii  property  of  fmuggUng  to  give  that  luhich  is  of  fuperior 
quality ^  and  at  a  cheaper  rate. 

Now,  fince  the  peace,  wines  fcnt  from  France 
have  not  been,  as  it  is  aflerted,  of  a  good  quality. 
It  is  impoflible  that  from  greedinefs  they  may  fome- 
times  have  been  adulterated.  But  this  tranfient 
abufe,  which  the  merchant  may  eafily  deftroy  when' 
ever  he  pleafes,  by  choofing  in  the  United  States 

H  com- 

conftraln  them  to  alienate  from  its  objed  the  mtney  deftined  to 
pay  off  or  lelfen  the  public  debt. 

This  minifter  clearly  perceived,  that  the  confidence  of  the 
people  ought  to  be  gained  at  any  price,  for  the  eftablifhment 
which  exi{h  but  by  confidencej  and  that  in  fuch  a  cafe,  the 
facrifice  of  power  would  fignify  nothing  to  a  government  w'^ich 
15  really  willing  to  prevent  abufes. 

The  advantages  refuiting  from  a  plan  like  this  are  vifiblc. 
Public  'epofitories  would  fupply  the  defeft  of  ability  in  thofe 
who  could  not  lay  up  the  produ-flions  of  the  earth.  They 
would  prevent  fquandering,  lofTcf,  and  fcarcity,  and  eftablifh 
a  more  conftant  uniformity  in  prices  as  well  as  in  quantities: 
want  of  confidence  would  at  firft  perhaps  hinder  the  ufe  of 
thefe  magazines,  caves,  or  cellars  of  thefc  public  refervoirs. 
But  this  would  not  long  be  the  cafe,  if  fincerity,  order,  and 
economy,  reigned  in  thefe  elUblifhmentSt  It  is  an  advantage 
which  might  have  been  procured  by  means  of  provincial  admi- 
nlftrations,  and  which  perhaps  will  never  betnjoyed  but  under 
tlieir  aufpices. 

With  refpe£l  to  the  billets,  or  notes  or  commoditih 
OR  productions,  it  is  feen  how  greatly  they  would  increafe 
national  riches,  how  quickly  the  mifery  of  the  peafants  would 
difappear,  if  thefe  notes  circulated  as  value  in  commerce,  and 
if  the  vi'ie-drelfcr  could  change  his  note  of  deoofit  for  produc- 
tions of  which  he  was  in  need.  The  m  )nopoly  of  rich  culti- 
vators would  then  be  overturned  j  of  cultivators  wh  fuck  up 
the  whole  fubfiflence  of  the  vine-drefler,  and^  by  avaricioua 
.  adva.iocs,  reduce  him  to  their  will. 


'  f  V 


e"  ^  \ 


■  i     «' 


■'■'■■■'; 


i:.  m 


:lf  i 


.il^ 


1 

'S 


■  M 


^  m 


74 


ON  THE  CCMMLRCE   OF  THE 


• 

ll! 


commilfioners  whofe  reputation  is  untouched;  tliis 
nbufe,  I  fay,  ought  not  to  Hop  the  exportations  of 
France. — Wine,  if  it  be  good,  will  always  find  con- 
fumers. — Nothing  but  intelligence  and  fine erity  arc 
neceflary  to  fucceed  in  this,  for  nature  has  done  the 
reft  for  France. 

The  Americans  prefer,  in  general,  the  wine  which 
i?  carried  to  them  in  bottles,  becaufe  they  believe  it 
lefs  fubje£l  to  become  fnarp,  or  to  change  on  the 
voyage.  On  the  firft  viev/  \t.  feems  advantageous  to 
France  to  furnifli  its  wines  with  this  envelope,  be- 
caufe it  is  a  new  opening  for  its  glafs-ware.  But  if 
it  be  recolle(5led,  what  a  prodigious  quantity  of  coni- 
buftibles  glafs  manufaiTtures  require,  to  the  fenfible 
deftru6tion  of  forefts,  it  appears  imprudent  to  en-, 
courage  a  commerce  which  cannot  but  augment  it 
rapidly,  itt  leaft,  before  it  be  encouraged,  it  would 
be  neceflary  to  have  very  certain  accounts  of  the 
number  of  glafs  manufa(^orics  in  the  kingdom,  of 
their  confumption  of  wood  and  charcoal,  of  their 
produce  and  exportation,  and,  finally,  of  our  forefts 
and  mines. 


** 


SECTION  II. 

BranJy. 

The  rapid  progrefs  lately  made  in  chymiftry  has 
dlfcovered,  in  moft  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  the 
faltsand  fpirits  which  conftitute  the  efleace  of  bran- 
dy; this  difcovery  has  been  turned  to  advantage; 
there  refults  from  it  a  confiderabl©  abatement  in  the 
price  of  that  liquor,  that  is  to  fay,  a  very  great  evil; 
this  p:-oves,  by  the  wav,  that  there  are  difcoveries 
in  phyfics  which  (liould  not  be  revealed  without 
having  firfl  confidered  their  moral  and  politijcal  ef- 
fects, and  having  indicated  to  government  the  means 
of  preventing  their  inconveniencies ;  it  alfo  proves, 

that 


}i 

€ 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  75 

that  a  chymift  ought  not  to  be  a  chymifl  only,  but 
a  politician  alfo. 

The  brandies  of  France  are  generally  looked  upon 
as  the  bed,  that  ia  to  fay,  the  moft  delicate  and  lead 
pernicious:  therefore  they  obtain  the  preference  with 
people  in  eafy  circumilances, 

A  great  deal  of  brandy  is  confumed  by  the  com- 
mon people;  but  this  is  counter-balanced  at  home 
and  abroad  by  fpi  its  drawn  from  grain,  fruit,  or 
fugai-. 

Rum,  which  is  produced  from  the  latter,  has  hacf, 
and  ever  will  have,  in  the  United  States,  the  pre- 
ference over  our  brandies,  by  reafon  of  its  chtap- 
nefs.  The  Americans  efpecially  the  Boftonians, 
i;riport  meiafles  from  the  fugar  iflands,  and  diftii  it, 
Uiul  independently  of  their  confumption,  they  re- 
fell  a  greaf  part  of  it  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  u.me 
Illands,  who  cannot  dlitil  it  for  want  of  combuiVibJes. 

Btrllde  rum,  the  Americans  make  ftrong  fpirits 
from  grain,  potatoes,  ^cc.  They  are  indebted  for 
this  to  the  Irifh  and  Germans  who  have  gone  to 
fettle  in  the  United  States.  A  pnnicious  prefent 
thofe  emigrants  have  made  them. 

In  Ireland  the  cheapnefs  of  fpirits  rr,  \de  from 
grain  places  them  within  the  reuch  of  the  pooreft 
man.  The  loweft  clafTes  of  fociety  ufe  them  to  a:i 
inci-edible  excefs ;  and  this  excefs  contributes  not  a 
little  to  promote  that  quarrelfome  humour  which 
charaiterifes  the  Irifli,  to  plunge  them  into  flupidir\', 
and  hinder  them  from  riling  to  that  degree  of  prof- 
perity  to  which  the  liberty  of  commerce  they  have 
lately  obtained  ought  to  carry  them. 

The  Americans  would  already  have  experienced 
a  part  of  that  degradation  of  which  the  excelhve  ufe 
of  ftrong  liquors  is  the  caufe,  if  they  were  not  almolt 
all  proprietors,  in  eafy  circumflances,  and  fathers  of 
families;  if  inftru6tion  and  morals  were  not  more 
generally  propagated  among  them  than  among  any 

H  2  uhec 


VI 


fill 

i 


1 


I 


76  ON  I'HE  COMMERCE  OF  THI 

Other  people;  and,  finally,  if  the  quick  and  confi- 
derable  profits  which  workmen  there  obtain  by  the 
high  price  of  workmanfhip,  did  not  give  them  a 
faliitary  ambition  which  keeps  them  from  intem- 
perance/* 

Thofe  of  the  United  *'iates,f  where  the  peoplff 
have  gone  from  fimple  and  primitive  manners, 
where  luxury  begins  to  reign,  where  flarery  ftill 

exifts, 

*  The  temperance  of  the  Americans  proves,  that  a  man 
is  HONEST  WHEN  HE  IS  HAPPY.  Hc  is  neither  vicious  nor 
criminal,  except  when  he  is  wretcheix.  What,  there- 
fore, is  tlie  firll  caufe  of  his  vices  and  crimet>  ?  The  caufe  of 
his  wretchednefs.  The  genealogy  of  almoft  all  crimes  is— no 
property  or  want  of  employ— caufc  of  wretchednefs  of  the  peo- 
ple—wretchednefs  the  cauie  of  drunkennels — drunkenncfs  the 
caufe  of  quarrels,  of  idlenefs,  of  mifery,  of  thefcs.  Thefts 
caufe  imprifonment  and  capital  punishments. 

The  firft  link  only  to  which  a  defeft  of  property  is  attached, 
remains  to  be  remarked.  It  is  not  necefl'ary  to  name  it.  But 
it  arifes  from  this  genealogy,  that  in  the  aftual  order  of  things, 
the  people  being  drawn  into  vices  and  crimes,  are  lefs  culpable 
than  they  are  imagined  j  confequently  ihey  ought  not  to  be  fa 
ievcrely  punilTicd,  and  that  governtt.ent  ftiould  fupprcfs  too 
fevere  pain;.  This  truth  cannot  be  too  often  repeated,  and  it 
ought  to  be  joined  to  every  clrcumftancc  when  opportunity  of- 
frrs,  feeing  that  the  lift  of  bloody  executions  is  every  where 
a.wf»mented,  and  that  narrow  minds,  which  fee  the  atrocity  only 
of  the  crime,  without  perceiving  its  caufe,  inceflantly  demand 
blood  for  expiation.  There  would  be  but  few  fcaftolds  if  none 
but  real  criminals  mounted  them, 

f  See  Smith's  Voyage  to  tht  fouthern  United  States,  where 
a  defcrlptionof  the  life  of  the  Carolinians  is  given.  This  au- 
thor malceB  it  appear,  that  they  drink  to  excels  the  ftrongeft  li- 
quors, although  tiie  climate  be  extremely  hot.  By  this  they 
abridge  their  lives,  and  appear  old  in  the  flower  of  youth.  This 
is  one  of  the  caufes  of  the  mortality  among  the  En^lifh  in  the 
F,att-Indies;  they  have  introduced  there  the  ufe  of  wines  and 
ilrong  liquors,  and  they  are  victims  to  them.  The  Indians  m<^ke 
no  ufe  of  theie,  and  live  to  a  great.age. 

In  quoting  Smith,  the  European  readers  ought  to  be  put  on 
their  guard  againft  Englifh  partiality,  vi'hich  reigns  throughout 
Che  work* 


* 


UNITED  STATfcS  OF   AM-CRICA.  77 

cxifts,  are  daily  witnefTes  to  the  ravages  caiifed  by 
the  exceflive  ufe  of  fpirits  made  from  ^rain.* 

A  lonj5  habit  is  difficult,  and  often  impuflible,  to 
fliake  off,  efpecially  when  it  procures  enjoyments. 
Therefore,  it  is  not  to  be  expeded  that  the  Ameri- 
cans will  ever  renounce  the  ufe  of  thefe  liquors. 
The  philofopher  fighs  at  this;  commercial  nations, 
which  turn  to  profit  the  misfortunes  and  caprices  of 
mankind,  ftrive  to  take  advantage  of  it.  France 
will  have  the  advantage,f  if  fhe  can  reduce  the 
price  of  brandies  to  the  level  r*^  that  of  rum.  Go- 
vernment, in  order  to  aim  at  this  point,  has  already 
perceived  the  neceflity  of  lowering  the  duties  on  the 
exportation  of  thefe  fpirits. 

But  ou^;ht  it  to  favour,  with  fo  mucli  complaifancc, 
the  diftillation  and  exportation  of  brandies?  I  do 
rot  think  fo;  this  new  opinion  feems  to  be  a  para- 
<,ox;  it  will  ceafe  to  appear  fo,  when  it  fliall  have 
jeen  examined  with  attention. 

The  diftillation  of  brandies  caufe  a  great  decay  of 
combuftibles:  one  great  evil  in  a  country  where 
combuftibles  daily  become  more  rarc.| 

H  3  The 

*  AH  brandies,  except  thofe  from  fugar  and  wine,  are  perni- 
cious, efpecially  when  new.  They  cannot  be  drank  withouC 
immediately  diferdering  the  body.  The  moft  trifling  exccfs  is 
fufficient  to  caufe  death. 

-f  Lord  Sheffield  agrees  that  the  brandies  of  France  are  pre- 
ferable to  thofe  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  of  which  there  is  nevcr- 
tbelefk'  fonne  confumption  in  the  United  States. 

X  Ail  the  provinces  of  France,  thofe  eveo  to  which  nature  has 
refufed  the  means  of  tranfporting  their  wood  to  others,  feel  thd 
fcarcity  of  this  article.  Lorrain  may  be  quoted  as  an  inflance. 
The  forefts  of  that  province  decay,  as  it  is  reported  in  the  prof- 
pe^us  of  a  price  upon  pit-ceal,  propofed  by  the  academy  of 
Nanci— the  dearnefs  of  wood  is  exceflive  there.  The  caufe  of 
this  inconvenience  is  not  diHicult  to  aHign  ;  it  it  the  necefTary 
confequence  of  forget,  glafs-houfes,  falt-pits,  8cc,  The  academy 
fequires  pit-coal  to  be  fought  for,  to  ferve  inftead  of  wood.  A 
more  fia7ple  means  would  be  to  deflroy  forges  SQ.d  glafs-hgufesy 
and  to  get  iron  and  gUfs  from  America* 


I 


;?" 


f 


'■'i:'* 


1 


7^  ON  THE  COMMLRCE  OF  THE 

The  exportation  of  brandy  j^rodnces  but  little  to 
the  revenue.  To  encourage  tliis  article,  it  has  been 
necciTary  to  take  olf  the  inipofl,  which  iit  preient  is 
no  more  than  five  fols  per  hogfhcad,  whllft  wine 
pays  a  duty  of  at  leaft  an  hundred  Ibis,  and  in  the 
Bordelois,  from  that  Aim  to  twenty -eight  livres.* 

Governnjcnt  ought  to  iiave  done  tiie  revrrfe,  to 
have  reduced  the  duties  on  wines,  and  augmented 
thofe  upon  br.\ndies. 

The  exportation  of  brandies  is  prejudicial  to  the 
confumption  of  our  winer,,  for  it  is  the  ba'fis  of  all 
made  wines  in  countries  where  wine  is  not  produced. 
It  is  put  into  a  great  quantity  of  water j  to  which  are 
added  bay-berries,  every  where  to  be  found.  Wine 
brandies  are  indifpenfable  in  this  fabrication;  no 
other  can  fnpply  their  place,  becaufe  they  only  can 
give  to  artificial  wines  the  winy  taile  which  is  eflen- 
tial  to  make  them  drinkable. 

What  immcnfe  gain  to  (Grangers  in  this  procefs— \ 
and  what  lofs  to  France!  A  barrel  of  brandy  which 
pays  a  trifling  duty  on  exportation,  whofe  tranfport 
cofts  but  little,  on  account  of  its  contraded  bulk, 
may  be  added  to  five  or  fix  barrels  of  water,  which 
coft  nothing,  and  by  the  aid  of  fugared  ingredients, 
which  give  colours,  may  enter  into  competition  with 
fix  barrels  of  wine,  that  pay  confiderable  duties  on 
exportation,  and  whofe  exportation  and  tranfport 
are  very  expenfive. 

Therefore,  in   diftilling  and  exporting  brandies, 
we  work  for  the  intereft  of  our  rivals ;  we  give  them 
means  of  doing  without  our  wines.     What 


;afy 


folly 


♦  GovernmenI  has,  fince  this  work  has  been  written,  fuf. 
pended  the  duties  paid  by  the  wines  of  Bourdeaux  and  Langue- 
doc.  This  fufpenfion  was  granted  upon  a  remonflrance,  im* 
porting  that  there  was  an  enormous  quantity  of  wines  at  Bour- 
deaux, and  which  the  holders  dared  not  export,  that,  they  might 
not  be  obliged  to  advance  the  high  duties*  Thi^  proves^  that 
impofts  occaAon  a  Aagnationi 


tJ!TITKD  STATES  OF   AMERICA. 


79 


Ito 

?n 
is 
inc 
llie 

to 
ted 

he 
all 
ed. 
are 
ine 
no 
can 
fen- 


foliy  1  What  would  people  lay  of  an  alchymlft,  who, 
having  found  the  phiiofopher's  (lone,  fliould  com- 
inunicate  his  fecret  to  his  rivals,  who  would  make 
life  of  it  to  his  prejudice. 

And  yet  this  operation,  (o  prejudicial  to  France, 
has  been  favoured  by  government.  It  encourages 
diftlllers;  that  is,  it  raifes  up  enemies  againft  tlic 
meliorating  vineyards  and  wines,  and  efpecially 
againft  the  art  of  preferving  the  latter.  It  would  be 
much  more  prudent  and  advantageous  to  difcouragc 
diftillcries.  In  fa<5^,  the  diftillation  of  brandies  is 
for  the  vineyard  proprietor  a  laft  refource,  which 
proves  his  ruin.* 

SECTION  III. 

Oilsy   Olives,  dry  Fruits,  Ct/r. 

Thefe  articles  are  fo  many  wants  with  the  Ame- 
ricans of  eafy  fortune,  and  efpecially  thoie  in  the 
northern  States.  Our  fbuthern  Provinces,  which 
produce  Inch  delicious  fruits,  cannot  in  this  refpeft 
fear  any  competition.  They  are  alfo  articles  which 
have  hitherto  beft  fucceeded  in  adventures  made 
from  Marfeilles. 

Moreover,  all  that  Europe  will  be  able  to  furnifh 
of  them,  will  find  room  in  the  United  States;  they 

will 

•  In  the  Orleano's,  fix  barrels  at  Icaft  of  >¥ine  are  neceffiry 
to  make  one  of  brandy.  The  wjje  of  this  countr/,  when  it  la 
drinkable,  is  fold  on  an  average  at  thirty  livres  a  barrel.  The  fix 
barrels  produce  one  hundred  and  eighty  livres,  and  reduced  to 
brandy  they  fcarcely  produce  eighty.  Thus  the  proprietor  fufFers 
a  lofs  of  one  hundred.  Brandies  fent  abroad,  where  they  dimi- 
n'lfti  the  fale  of  wine,  can  bear  no  exportation  duty.  Wines,  on 
the  contrary,  pay  a  confiderable  one.  Let  thefe  calculations  be 
anfwered.  The  Englifh  themfelves  ought  not  to  admit  the  bran- 
dies of  France,  becauO,  in  filling  Englind  with  artificial  wines, 
they  arc  prejudicial  to  their  wine  duty.  The  prohibition  of 
brandies  would,  under  this  double  afpeft,  be  advantageous  to 
both  countrieai 


%   i^ 


i\ 


'r  ''I-,: 


-iM 


w;a 


I 

III 


!.. 


i     I 
t 


r  I 


It 


|1 


80  0T<  THt  COMMlitCR  OF  THE 

will  ncconipany  our  wines,  and  vvc  can  join  with 
tlie  fame  cafe  and  certainly  of  fulo,  perfumeries, 
anchovies,  vcrdigreafe,  &c.  as  well  as  an  huiulrtd 
oihcr  little  things  taken  by  the  Enj^iini  from  Mar- 
feilles,  and  of  which  they  have  created  a  want  to 
th'e  Americans. 

Lord  Sheffield,  in  his  work,  makes  Spain,  Por- 
tugal, and  Italy,  furnifli  the  United  States  with  thele 
commodities.  I  wifh  he  had  been  fmcere  enoupji 
to  give  the  advantage  to  France.  France  is  fo  ge- 
nerally known  to  fell  thefe  productions  in  the  States 
of  America,  that  it  is  equally  allonilhing  this  writer 
ihould  have  been  ignorant  of  it,  or  filent  upon  the 
fubje(ft.  This  fa6t,  by  proving  his  partiality,  ourjht 
to  put  readers  upon  their  guard  againft  his  aflertions. 

SECTION   IV. 

Cloths, 

People  governH  by  a  free  conftitution  are  natu- 
rally grave  and  deliberate.  They  prefer,  in  every 
thing  they  ufe,  goodnefs  to  elegance,  what  is  folid 
to  that  which  is  fubjeft  to  the  caprices  of  mode. 
Therefore,  as  long  as  the  independent  Americans  en- 
joy their  excellent  conftitution,  they  will  prefer 
clothes  of  cloth  to  thofe  of  the  moft  brilliant  fluffs. 

Moreover,  its  beauty,  pliancy,  ftrength,  and  du- 
ration, render  it  more  generally  fit  for  this  ufe  in  any 
climate  whatfoever:  cloth  fecures  the  body  from 
the  exccffes  of  cold  as  well  as  from  thofe  of  heat. 
It  refifts  rain;  in  a  word,  it  unites  every  conveni- 
ence; and  if  it  be  the  univerfal  clothing  of  people 
in  a  middling  flate,  it  offers  equally  to  the  rich,  but 
reafonabie  man,  a  choice  proper  to  fatisfy  his  tafte, 
and  to  proportion  his  expences  to  his  means. 

The  manufacture  of  cloths  is  in  the  number  of 
thofe  complicated  manufactures  which  employ 
throughout  the  year  a  great  number  of  workmen  by 

the 


IPITITED  STATES  OF  AMKHICA.  ^X 

ific  day;  therefore  it  will  not  be  fiiitable  to  the  Amc* 
ricans,  fo  long  as  that  clafs  of  men  which  produces 
thcfe  workmen  Ihall  be  able  to  employ  themfelvc* 
more  ufefuUy  in  the  clearing  of  lands,  and  in  culti* 
vation  in  general. 

A  manufafture  of  woollen  fluffs,  proper  for  ths 
clothing  of  the  country  proprietor,  his  family  and 
fervants,  may,  without  doubt,  be  aflbciated  into  the 
labours  of  the  field  ;  but  manufactures  of  this  kind, 
although  very  important  in  themfelves,  can  only  be 
applied  to  coarfe  and  unfiniflied  fluffs.  The  inter- 
rupted Icifure  of  the  peafant  permits  him  to  do  no- 
thing which  is  com[)licated.  Card,  fpin,  weave, 
and  bleach,  is  all  that  he  can  do."*  If  it  be  necef- 
fary  for  him  to  go  beyond  thefe,  he  will  find  a  greater 
atlvantage  in  felling  liis  raw  materials,  or  even  with 
their  firjl  preparations,  ff  they  be  limple,  and  to 
draw  from  the  manufy<flures,  properly  fo  called,  thc 
articles  of  whicli  he  is  in  need. 

We  owe  little  :»ratitude  to  thofe  of  our  fneciilators 
who  immediately  after  the  peace  difperfed  our  cloths 
in  the  United  States.  If  one  fpark  of  public  fpirit 
had  animated  them,  they  would  have  perceived  the 
precious  and  honourable  fervice  which  they  were 
able  to  render  to  their  country  in  thefe  firft  adven- 
tures, by  giving  to  the  Americans  a  great  idea  of 
the  flnte  of  our  manufat^nres.  Thefe  people  were 
well  difpofed,  by  the  fuccour  France  had  given 
them,  to  cherifh  its  inhabitants,  to  elleem  their  cha- 
radler,  and  receive  their  produ<5lions.     They  were 

well 

♦  As  long  as  titire  arc  landi  to  be  clearco,  the  leifure  whiclt 
•grkulturc  affords  will  be  very  fhort,  becaufe  every  feafon  is  pro- 
pci'  for  this  employ,  except  when  too  great  a  quancity  of  fnow 
ftops  the  work.  The  intervals  of  leifure  become  regularly  efta- 
bliihed,  when  the  fyflem  of  cultivation  is  fixed,  and  the  foil  en- 
tirely difpofed  thereto.  Then  undertakings  are  calculated  upon 
their  duration  j  but,  in  general,  finiple  work,  which  requires  no 
workfhop,  no  confiderabk  apparatusi  is  that  only  wkich  agrees 
with  agiiculcurcg 


1,  i 


).•( 

».., 


f 

■    iv 


m 


w 


12 


# 


ON  TH£  COMMERCI  OF  TRJS 


I:; 


well  difpofed  to  abjure  the  contempt  and  averHon 
with  which  the  Englifti  had  infpircd  thetn  for  their 
rivals  and  their  produ£lions,  and  to  give  France  the 
preference  in  every  thing.  Why  has  avarice,  by  a 
miferable  calcuhition,  rendered  thefe-  good  difpofi- 
lions  of  no  elfed?  Men  were  willing  to  gain,  to 
gain  greatly;  to  make  what  is  called  a  good  ftroke, 
in  taking  advantage  of  the  diltrefs  of  the  Americans, 
and  forcing  them  to  take  thofe  commodities  which 
were  unfit  for  every  other  market. ■^^' 

Tiiis  diflionclly  has  counterbalanced  the  fervice- 
rendered  them;  for  the  imprudent  and  wretched 
young  man,  whofe  throat  is  cut  by  an  ufurer,  owes 
him  no  acknovvledgmei.:,-  A  greater  evil  to  France 
has  been  the  confequence— her  cloths  have  loft  their 
reputation  in  the  TJnited  States.  But  let  the  Ame- 
ricans nn'.le:eive  themfclves;  let  them  not  attribute 
to  the  ration  the  fault  of  a  few  individuals;  Itt  them 
not  liave  a  bad  opinion  of  our  cloths,  becaufe  fome 
bad  ones  have  been  fent  to  them.  The  fame  acci- 
dciit  would  have  happened  to  Englifn  cloths  if,  in  a 
like  cafe,  there  had  been  Englifli  merchants  avarici- 
ous enough,  and  fo  far  ftrangers  to  the  public  good, 
as  to  fend  their  refufe  to  the  United  States. f 

The- 

*  I  do  not  accufe  any  boc?y  j  but  lean  certify,  upon  the  au- 
th'^rity  of  the  nioll  rsfpeftabte  eye-whnelTeSj  that  fome  '?f  theie 
outcnil  cloths  fell  at  the  end  of  fix  months  wear  into  /hreds. 

The  Americans  were  fo  flrutjc-by  this,  that  Mr.  Laurens, 
s^ter  having  received  two  millions,  which  France  lent  to  the 
Vlniced  State?,  employed  a  part  of  that  i\im  to  buy  Engli/h  cloths. 
Complaints  were  nnadc ;  he  anfwcred  that  it  was  his  duty  to  buy 
beLcer  and  cheaper  cloths. 

i'  Engli/h  merchants  love,  as  well  as  others,  to  get  money, 
and  there  are  among  them  thofe  who,  for  the  love  of  gain,  would 
trample  under  foot  every  patriotic  confideration.  But  tjie  public 
fpirit  of  the  generality  of  them  puts,  in  England  more  than  e!le« 
where,  a  check  upon  the  fliameful  cnterprizei  cf  avarire  ;  con- 
fecjucnily  the  greater  part  of  the  merchants  never  abandon  the 
national  intcrefts  in  their  fpeculations,  neither  the  honour  (.f  Eng- 
lifli commerce,  nor  the  reputation  of  their  manufactures,     it 


» , 


,  M 


"DNITED  STATES  OY   AMERICA.  83 

The  Americans  who  come  among  us,  (luciy  the 
^nature  of  the  intercourfe  which  we  fliall  one  day 
have  with  *he  United  States;  they  know  that  our 
maniifa(!^urers  polFefs  all  the  means  which  give  to 
Englifft  cloths  their  reputation ;  that  they  make  them 
in  the  fame  manner,  and  that  the  fuperfines  are  fii- 
perior  to  thofe  of  England;  that  in  general  dying  is 
better  underftood  with  us,  and  carried  to  greater 
perfc6lion:  in  fliort,  that  it  depends  but  on  fome 
circumftances  eafy  to  be  got  over,  to  make  the  cheap- 
nefs  of  our  workmanfiiip  aiUire  us  the  preference  to 
the  Englifii  with  rcfpcil  to  cloths. 

Lord  Shetfield,  in  avowing  the  fnperiority  of  our 
fine  cloths,  and  of  their  cheapnefs,  obferves,  that 
the  greateft  confumption  of  the  Americans,  is  of 
common  cloths,  with  refpe<5l  to  wliich  France  cannot 
enter  into  a  competition  with  England.  And  he 
draws  from  it  this  confequence,  that  the  inconveni- 
ence of  dividing  the  demands  to  compofc  aiTort- 
ments,  and  the  confiderrtion  of  the  fmall  quantity 
of  fine  cloth  necelFary  to  vorm  them,  will  caufe  thefi 
to  be  ordered  in  England,  notwirhftanding  the  ad- 
vantage there  would  be  in  getting  them  from  France. 

But  why  Ihould  we  not  furniftx  common  cloths 
to  the  United  States,  ftnce  the  labour  of  our  manu- 
fiifturers  is  cheaper  than  that  of  Enp;land?  It  is  he- 
caufe  the  Englifh  wool  is  cheaper  than  ours.  The 
Englifli  grow  their  own  v/ool,  and  fland  in  no  need 

of 

Is  thus  .hey  are  become  the  principal  ajents  for  furnl{hing  every 
fpecies  of  manufa^^iurl•  to  thi^  whole  worlJ.  Whea  it  happens 
tliat  any  of  th^m  facrifice  iiatirna!  reputation  to  vi?>.vs  of  private 
interell,  honed-  patriots  generally  perfer  accufations  againrt  them 
befire  a  public  tribui.il,  and  then  the  culprit  is  not  fuffered  to 
anfwer  by  clani'.eftin  nnemoirs  to  puhlic  andlubftantial  accufa- 
tions; this  obfcur''  <inci  co'v.utDy  reiource  is  held  in  too  great 
contempt  to  be  made  ufe  (. ,  Therp  remains  nothing  to  the 
culprit  but  fil'.'iice  or  falihn'ri ,  in  both  cafes  he  is  diflionou.ed 
in  the  opini^r  of  he  public  .vhich  afft:d"ts  and  marks  every  la- 
divldualj  without  reffe<^  to  rank^  power^  or  riches. 


,'f 


1' 


■MM, 


m 


*iji 


Mf. 


'SI 


i  m 


i     ,;  t , 


3^.  ON  THB  COMMER1CE  OF  Till 

of  foreign  wool,  except  a  little  Spanifli,  indifpcn" 
fable  to  fuperfine  cloths.  On  the  contrary,  we  in> 
port  more  than  half  of  the  wool  we  manufafture 
into  cloth.  M.  la  Platiere  fays  there  are  thirty-five 
millions  of  flieep  kept  in  Great-Britain,  each  of 
which,  he  affirms,  produces  on  an  average  at  leaft 
fix  pounds  of  wool.  It  is  the  breed  of  fheep  which 
gives  to  England  fuch  an  amazing  fuperiority  over 
all  other  nations  in  her  woollen  manufa6tures. 
France  ouglit  to  encourage  the  breed  of  flieep  and 
the  deftni6tion  of  wolves.*  M.  la  Platiere  faw  this 
evil,  and  had  courage  to  publifh  it  in  the  Encyclo- 
pediae  Methodique.  Platiere  was  called  a  man  of 
pretenfions.  The  fame  title  was  given  to  Dr.  Price 
in  London,  when  he  predi<^ed  the  lofs  of  the  Colo- 
nies. The  ninifterial  heads  of  that  country  laughed 
at  the  'trophel,  but  the  event  proved  he  was  right. 

SECTION  V. 

Linens, 

There  are  two  principal  fpecles  of  linen-drapery, 
■which  are  fubdivided  into  a  multitude  of  otheu. 

The  firft  fpecies  contains  linen  properly  fo  called; 
that  is  to  fay,  linen  which  ferves  to  make  fliirts, 
flieefs,  table  linen,  and  all  the  linen  made  ufe  of 
for  every  purpofe  of  cleanlinefs. 

Thefe  linens  are  made  with  hemp,  flax,  or. cotton ; 
this  laft  article  is  employed  when  the  two  former  ones 
are  fcarcc:  it  is  fometimes  mixed  with  flax. 

The 

*  In  the  lime  of  the  monarchy  there  was  an  office  called  Lou- 
VETERiE,  or  J^lafter  of  the  French  King's  wolf-hounds,  and 
his  affjciates  received  a  triHing  recompence  for  the  head  of  every 
wolf  they  killed  :  of  whom  this  (»(\  is  well  attcfted.  TOere 
is  a  ftn^ll  diftrict,  the  fub-dt'Iegate  of  which  put  into  hk  accoint 
tlie  price  of  ten  ihoufand  wolves  head,-,.  The  quantity  appeared 
extraordinary  to  the  minifter.  The  affair  wat  examined.  The 
fub-delegate  was  difcharged.  Bui  oc  who  prompted  him  to  the 
iitt  went  unpuniilied. 


The 


# 


-IWITED  STATES  OF  AME'RICA. 


8s 

The  mann'ir  of  making  thefe  linens  is  very  fun' 
pie;  they  are  made  in  all  parts  of  Europe.*  Thofc 
countries  where  religious  or  political  defpotifm  di- 
IcoLirages  induftry  ;  where  the  numerous  inftitutions 
of  charity,  invented  to  divert  the  attention  of  de- 
fpair  from  mifery,  nourifli  idlenefs ;  thefe  countries 
are  the  onlv  ones  wherein  this  manufacture  does  not 
merit  the  attention  of  the  political  obierver. 

Every  where  elfe,  the  country  people  employ, 
more  or  lefs,  the  leifure  which  their  kind  of  life  af- 
fords them  to  fpin  rtnd  weave  linen.  Moft  of  the 
farmers  and  proprietors  who  enjoy  a  little  eafe,  or 
who  are  not  afraid  of  letting  it  appear,  fow  hemp 
or  flax,  and  draw  from  their  foil  and  the  work  ot 

I  their 

*  If  tlierc  be  a  country  where  the  tnanufa^ure  of  linens  is 
encouraged,  it  is  in  Ireland,  particularly  fiiice  its  lefurrcftion 
into  the  political  world.  Parliament  has  eil.^bliihed  a  coni- 
jTlittee  which  is  particularly  employed  about  this  manufadture, 
and  which  grants  very  conliderabie  fuccowrs  to  mainifafl-urers. 
There  is  one  vvho  has  obtained  more  than  thirty  thoufjnd  pounds 
ilerling  from  government,  and  whole  manufadlure  employs  two 
tlioufand  men  and  women,  and  fix  hundred  chiKlren. 

This  committee  names  infpe£l.)rs  to  examine  the  ftateof  ma- 
nufatlwres,  and  afterwards  to  make  reports,  or  give  a  general 
d'"fcription  of  their  fituation,  of  the  number  of  workmen  they 
employ,  of  their  produce,  rcfources,  wants,  &c.1j 

Still  more  hap  been  done  in  Ireland,  to  encourage  the  com- 
iTjerce  of  linen  }  great  edifices  have  been  built,  and  deltined  ta 
receive  them,  ■^%  well  as  thofe  who  come  to  qfter  them  for  fale« 
The  moft  confiderable  market  being  at  Dublin,  three  or  four 
times  a  year,  linen  merchants  from  the  North,  who  have  bl-ach- 
yards,  come  to  Dublin  with  their  affortments.  They  iind  in 
thefe  edifices,  places  for  their  linens  and  for  theinfelvcs  to  lodg* 
in,  all  at  no  expencc— They  meet  Englifh  buyers  or  others, 
who  go  there  to  gather  together  all  their  puichafes.— Likf- ijepo- 
fitories  are  eftablifhed  in  the  North;  they  are  eflentlally  ncceCiary 
to  thole  manufactures,  the  articles  of  which  arc  gathered  in  ths 
country. — Where  they  cxift,  expences  are  lefs,  and  work  is  bet' 
tcr  paid  for. 

U  When  thefe  infpeflors  are  honeft,  and  men  of  underiland- 
ipg,  their  reports  are  evidences  of  fucccfs.  Then  example  hai 
a  fingular  inGucace  upon  iauuAr^. 


•t 


';■;■  > 


l;;  ■!  ^ 


*. 


,1  If-  .|| 


!■  '-  >x 


'm 


m 


'.    ^! 


86  ON  THE  COMMliRCli  OF  THE 

their  hands  the  linen  which  covers  their  bodies  and 
fupplies  their  family. 

The  Englilli  have  added  otlier  caiifes  to  thofe 
which  produce  low-priced  vvorknianlliip:  their  aflo- 
iiiftiing  induflry,  their  obferving  genius,  their  ever 
calculating  mind,  have  invented  for  the  fj^inning,  &c. 
of  cotton,  and  for  weaving,  feveral  machines  which 
Jlill  furpafs  the  cheapnefs  to  be  expeded  from  the 
iciifure  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  country. 

As  thefe  machines  are  infenfibly  introduced  into 
countries,  it  may  be  expeded  that  the  low  price  of 
linen-drapery  will  be  every  where  ellabliflied. 

But  notwithf^anding  the  multiplication  of  thefe 
machines,  nations  which  5^roan  under  a  bad  govern- 
ment, or  are  grown  rufly  in  old  and  wretched  habits, 
will  always  depend,  for  that  article  of  necefTity,  upon 
thofe  which  have  eftablillicd  bounds  to  their  govern- 
ment, but  none  for  their  indullry,  which  mult  con- 
ilantly  increafe. 

It  refults  from  thefe  fa^ls,  that  the  United  States 
will  always  have,  in  proportion  to  tne  increafe  of 
their  population  and  culture,  kfs  recourfe  to  flran- 
gers  for  that  principal  kind  of  linen-drapery  whofe 
manufacture  is  fo  well  alfociated  with  the  labours  of 
the  field.  ■■■^ 

Very  fine  linens  mufl  be  excepted  ;  they  are  de^*- 
tined  for  luxury,  and  the  individuals  employed  in 
manufaft uring  them  are  condemned  to  vegetate  mi- 
ierably  in  cities',  rolling  perpetually  in  the  fame  circle 
of  mechanical  labours. f     It  is  the  unhappy  fate  of 

all 

*  The  American  women  are  renowned  for  their  induflry  'n  the 
condudt  of  their  houfes ;  they  fpin  a  great  deal  of  wool  or  flax  ; 
they  wi  Id  lofe  their  reputation  and  be  defpif^d,  if  tlieir  whole 
family  were  not  aimoft  entirely  clothed  with  tlie  cloth  at.d  linen 
in-  de  in  the  houfe— if  the  whole  interior  of  ^fjeir  ruftic  habita- 
tion did  not  bear  evident  marks  of  their  cleanlinefs  and  induflry. 

•f-  Manufadures  are  ucii  boatled  of,  becaufe  children  are 
employed  therein  from  t.heir  moft  tender  age}  that  is  to  fay, 
that  men  congratulate  theniifdves  upon  making  early  martyri 


t 


(fu     ,: 


:!■ 


UNirnO  STATES   OF   AMERICA.  87 

altthofe  who  are  born  in  Europe  without  j^roperty, 
aiul  will  not  debafe  theiufelvcs  by  di^inellic  labour. 

The  United  States,  where  laborious  individuals 
may  with  lb  much  facility  become  proprietors,  are 
far'from  that  degradation;  and  if  they  are  wife,  they 
will  have,  for  a  long  time,  tiie  happinefs  not  to  fee 
fpun  or  woven  among  them,  any  of  thofe  delicate 
kinds  of  thread  and  fine  linens,  which,  fought  after 
and  bought  up  by  the  opulent,  are  t!ie  red  produc- 
tions of  European  mifery. 

'The  fecond  fpecies  of  linens  contains  what  is 
more  properly  called  linen -drapery ;  that  is  to  fiiy, 
cloth  made  of  thread  of  different  colours,  whether 
flax  or  cotton  J  or  thefe  two  fubilances  mixed  with 
others. 

The  greater  part  of  this  drapery  requires  too  com- 
plicated a  procefs,  too  varied  an  aj)pa:"atus,  too  con- 
tinued a  labour,  to  be  m^nufadured  otherways  than 
in  thofe  particular  eftabliflnnents,  fituated  from  ne- 
celfitv  in  the  neighbourhood  of  cities,  and  which 
have  no  affinity  u'ith  a  rural  life. 

The  art  of  making  well  the  tilTue,  of  nvixing  the 
colours,  of  contrafling  them,  of  imaginary  agreeable 

1  2  defigns, 


% 


of  thefc  Innocent  rre^.tures  ;  for  Is  It  not  a  torment  to  ihf.Ce  poor 
lltt.e  beings,  whom  nature  comniaiiiis  us  to  permit  to  take  the 
d'r  anri  their  fporrs,  until  they  are  of  riper  years,  ;ind  their  ftrength 
is  become  confiJcrabh;— I  it  nor  a  tormen.t  to  ihem  to  be  a  whole 
day,  and  a'moll  every  day  of  their  lives,  employed  at  the  f.ims 
v;ork,  in  an  ohfcure  and  infcille-l  prifjn?  Muft  not  the  weari- 
nefs  and  vexation  v/hlch  they  futTer,  nhftrudl  the  opening  of  their 
phyfical  and  intcllewtual  faculties,  and  ilupify  them  ?  MullnoC 
there  rcfult  from  this  a  dej^encrate  raC'',  inclined  to  automa- 
tonifm  and  llavery  ?  For  moft  manufadlures  require  no  other 
than  mechaoical  labours,  which  a  macliice  would  perform  as 
well  as  a  im.n.  It  is  therefiTe  impolliblc  that  a  man  condemned 
to  this  kind  of  erapU-y  ilioiild  not  become  a  m.ichine;  and  llii- 
pidity  and  lervitude  are  joined  to  each  other.— Ihefe  truths  can- 
not be  too  often  repeated,  not  to  difguit  the  Eur(  peans  with  the 
mania  of  manufactuies  j  they  are  too  far  advanced  to  retradij 
but  to  hifid.'f  the  American'^  from  ever  fdlovirg  die  fame  carec:. 


li  *•; 


JV! 


88 


QV  THT  COMMERCI  OF  THB^ 


defigns,  of  prei)aring  the  linen  when  it  is  finilTiMj 
&:c.  this  art,  cxtenfive,  varied  and  delicate,  requires 
the  greateft  attention.  The  inoft  important  thing  is 
to  ilo  a  great  deal  in  it  at  a  little  expence,  and  it  is 
the  point  to  which  the  Englifli  are  arrived,  with  re- 
fpe(5t  to  that  kind  generally  known  under  the  name 
of  printed  callico. 

This  will  be  for  a  long  time  a  confiderable  article 
of  commerce,  between  Europe  and  the  United 
States,  which  confumes  a  great  deal  of  it;  and  it  is 
an  article  wherein  French  induftry,  left  to  its  natural 
force,  and  not  being  reilrained  by  any  obdacle,  need 
not  fear  competition.*  In  this,  as  in  moft  other 
articles,  the  nature  of  things  is  entirely  in  favour  of 
Jrance,  ^nd  fuccefs  depends  wholly  on  the  will  of 
her  '^overnm'^''''' 

In  the  year  1785  the  government  of  France  in- 
vited, by  an  arret,  foreign  manufacturers  of  thefc 
linens  to  come  and  fettle  in  France. 

But  this  invitation  is  not  made  in  terms  fufficientty 
clear,  or  flattering,  to  induce  ftrangers  to  come  and 
fettle  amongd'  us;  cfpecially  not  fuch  as  have  a  little 
energy  and  elevation  in  their  chara6lers,  and  it  is  of 
ihefe  alone  that  we  are  In  need. 

Among  ditferent  favours  granted  them,  there  is 
one  'hicii  entitles  them  to  the  enjoyment  of  their Jiaie 
QV  prcfej/lcn^  and  of  their  ufages ;  in  that  ivhich  Jliall  not 


he  contrary  to  the  Uvvos  of  thehindom^  Z^l\ 


But 


•^ 


I''    ! 


•  Lord  SheiTielJ  main  rain?  in  hl«  work,  that  France  has 
not  even  linen  enougli  for  her  own  confumption,  A  cum- 
jtnercial  di<ftionary,  prlnred  at  Lyons  in  I763»  aflfyres  on  the 
contrary,  that  France  fends  a  great  deal  abroad.  If  ihe  com- 
piler of  the  di£lionary  fpoke  truth,  hs  might  be  anfvver^d  ac- 
cording to  tha  author  of  Les  Etudes  de  la  Nature-—**  Of  what 
**  ufe  h  It  to  a  ftate  to  clothe  foreign  nations,  when  one's  own 
<*  people  are  quite  naked  ?"— Thefc  two  writers  may  be  made 
to  agier,  by  laying  that  France,  reftored  to  hcr^rlergy,  would 
•afily  furnifh  linens  to  foreigners  and  her  own  citizens,  and  that 
Various  interior  caufa*  have  hitherto.prev^nted  lies  from  doing  it» 


VNIT2D  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  89 

But  what  fignifies  all  th'^  vague  expreflions  of  en- 
joyment, of  ftate  and  profefflon,  liberty  and  ufages? 
What  ftate  is  here  fpoken  of?  Is  it  of  the  political, 
civil,  religious,  or  domeftic  ftate?  Engliflimen,  in- 
dependent Americans,  have  a  political  ftate,  a  poli- 
tical liberty,  that  is,  a  right  to  take  part  in  the  ad- 
miniftration  of  public  affairs:  is  this  ftate  undcr- 
ftood  ?  Is  the  liberty  of  having  a  temple  for  commu- 
nion, for  marriage  according  to  that  communion, 
underftood  by  the  liberty  of  ufages?  Why  are  not 
thefe  ufages  fpccified? 

And  above  all,  what  fignifies  thefe  words,  in  that 
luhichjhall  not  be  contrary  to  the  lazes  of  the  kingdom.  If 
they  convey  a  clear  meaning,  do  they  not  completely 
deftroy  the  preceding  favours  granted  ?  or,  at  leaft, 
do  noc  they  leave  a  great  uncertainty  upon  that 
which  is  or  is  not  granted  ? 

Why  is  not  a  language  clear  and  without  evailoii 
made  ufe  of,  efpecially  in  treating  with  ftrangers  ? 
Inftead  of  an  equivocal  jargon,  dangerous  in  its  na- 
ture, becaufe  it  produces  miftruft,  and  may  give  an 
opening  for  deceit,  why  not  fay  to  them  in  '^lear 
terms,  "  If  you  come  within  our  ftates,  accompa  iied 
by  your  wives  and  children, — if  you  bring  your 
manufadlures,  if  you  eftablifli  yourfelvcs  among  us, 
you  ftiall  enjoy  all  the  rights  of  our  fubje£ts  ?  Thefe 
rights  arc,  to  pofTefs  property  in  the  fulleft  fecurity, 
and  not  to  be  deprived  of  it  but  by  the  laws,  tri- 
bunals, &c.  If  you  fix  your  abode  among  us,  your 
children  will,  without  obftacle,  be  your  heirs:  you 
fliall  alfo  preferve  your  religious  opinions.  When 
there  fliall  be  a  certain  number  of  you,  you  fliall 
have  a  temple  wherein  to  worfliip,  according  to  your 
own  manner,  the  Everlafting  Father;  and  you  (liall 
have  minifters,  and  holdaflemblies;  fliall  intermarry 
according  to  your  rules,  &c.  If  France  be  not 
agreeable  to  you,  nothing,  abfolutely  nothing,  fliall 
kinder  you  from  leaving  it,  and  carrying  with  you 

I  ^  .  YOUi* 


it 


ti  .    i\ 


PM 


90  ON  THt   COMMJ-RCB   OF  TrfK 

your  riches."  It  flmll  be  told  that  all  this  was  r.ieaiK 
to  lie  rrul  by  the  arret:  it  was  nccelFary  then  to  ex- 
plain it  clearly,  aiul  why  were  thefc  obfcure  words 
added, — hi  that  ivhich  J/iall  not  he  contrary  to  the  laiiis  of 
the  kingdorii  ? 

How  fliould  a  German,  an  Italian,  an  Englifii- 
man,  wlio  fliould  be  tempted  to  i^ftablifli  themselves 
in  France,  be  acquainted  with  your  ancient  laws  and 
ordinances?  Will  they  turn  over  your  innumerable 
folios/  Certainly  they  will  not,  they  will  flay  at 
home;  you  will  therefore  have  failed  in  your  inten- 
tions. On  the  other  hand,  do  not  they  know  that 
a  century  ago,  and  ever  fince  that  time,  thoul'ands 
of  ordinances  were,  and  have  been  made  again fl: 
the  Calvinifls,  and  that  thefe  ordinances  are  not  yet 
repealed?  Ought  not  they  to  be  afraid  that  thefe 
would  be  brought  forth  againft  them  if  they  gave  the 
leail  offence?  They  will  remain  at  home,  and  once 
more  you  have  mided  your  aim. 

It  is  the  more  necellary  for  monarchies  not  to 
difguife  under  a  captious  form  the  advantages  by 
which  they  feek  to  entice  llrangers;  as  free  ftatcs, 
inch  as  Ireland  and  Independent  America,  do  not 
i\ibjc6i:  emigrants  to  any  capitulation  or  conftraint: 
thev  offer  them  all  the  rights  of  citizens  the  moment 
they  fet  their  feet  on  free  ground:  and  what  rights! 
In  Ireland  that  of  voting  at  eleftions;  in  the  United 
States,  that  of  being  elected  themfelves;  and  con- 
sequently the  moft  feducing  right,  becaufe  it  is  the 
inoil  proper  one  to  maintain  the  dignity  of  a  man 
who  has  dignity  J  the  moft  proper  to  give  it  to  him 
who  has  it. not. 

When  a  nation  perceives  the  neceffity  of  enticing 
ftranr^ers  to  fettle  in  it,  nothing  ought  to  be  fpared, 
eipecially  in  flatesfar  advanced  in  civilization. 

It  is  a  means  of  regenera*'ng  morals,  if  it  be  pof- 
fible  to  regenerate  thein,  and  cfpecially  to  encourage 

induflry; 


at 


#• 


tr::rTEO  states  op  amerisa. 


9» 


induftry;  for  in  order  to  cxift  in  a  flrange  land,  and 
to  gain  in  it  confideration  and  confidence,  emigrants 
are  forced  to  have  good  morals,  probity,  and  exu6U- 
tiide.  Tiieir  example  cann;)t  l)iit  have  a  fuhitary  in- 
iluence  upon  the  nation  which  receives  them  into 
its  bofoin. 

Otherwife,  having  opinions,  habitudes,  and  know- 
ledge, different  from  thofe  of  that  nation,  they  may 
help  it  to  break  its  bad  cuftoms,  to  give  it  a  greater 
extent  in  its  views,  more  cofmopolitifm,  or  of  that 
character  proper  for  approach' ng  nations  to  each 
other,  and  for  diminifliing  national  antipathies. 

When  the  advantages  which  a  country  acquires 
by  flrangers  who  fix  themfelves  in  it  are  confidered, 
it  is  aftonifliing  to  fee  governments  think,  fo  little 
about  them,  and  frequently  not  to  refpeft  their  rights. 
They  ought,  on  the  contrary,  to  prote6l  a  ftranger  fo 
much  the  more  as  he  fcems  lefs  fupported  by  the  laws 
than  a  citizen;  that  he  is  unacquainted  with  them; 
that  he  may  eafily  be  the  vivftim  of  artifice  and  chi- 
canery;  that  it  frequently  happens  that  he  does  not 
underftand  the  language;  finally,  that  being  alona, 
he  has  neither  family,  friends,  nor  patrons. 

In  this  fituation,  the  Itranger  ought  to  be  envi- 
roned by  the  lafeguardof  a  particular  adminiftration, 
whrch  fliould  watch  over  his  lafety;  but  it  is  the 
reverfe  of  this  in  many  ftates.^' 

Thus,  vvhilft  we  fee  in  thofe  flates  who  undcr- 
iland  their  interefls  better,  Frenchmen  dired  the 

greatefl" 

*  If  a  Granger  be  fufpe^cd,  few  examinations  arem-dc; 
he  is  arrefted— liberty  is  left  to  a  citizen,  or  at  leaft  he  is  treat- 
ed mildly;  the  ftrangcr  is  imprifoned  :  the  fubakern,  infolent 
by  reafon  of  the  indiffsrence  of  his  fuperiors,  treats  him  with 
feverity :  for  what  is  there  to  fear  from  him  ?  Is  the  word 
with  them  all,— fet  at  liberty— will  that  ftranger  go  and  make 
the  temple  of  chicane  ring  with  his  complaints?  He  fears^ 
left  it  may  be  a  new  foreft,— he  flies,  curfing  that  inhofpitabia 
country. 


':!■ 


I.  ' 
,1. 


w\ 


■>■■  m 


m 


^  ON  THB  COMNfERCE  OF  TH& 

greateft  part  of  their  manufactures;  few  Grangers 
are  fceii  to  come  and  eftablifh  themielves  aniongit  us. 
I  couM  quote,  as  a  proof  of  what  I  advance, 
known  facts,  quite  recent;  but  I  will  not  write  a 
book  upon  every  article  of  exportation;  I  will  con- 
fine myfelf  to  faying  that  ^ree^t  liberty^  amlfenu  regu- 
laticNSy*  are  the  two  bed  means  of  improving  the 
linen  manufadurcs  in  all  countries,  as  well  as  m 
France. 


SECTION  VI. 

Silks,  Ribbons y  Silk  Stockings,  Gold  and  Stiver  Lace,  ^c. 

There  are  upwards  of  feventy  thoufand  looms 
and  frames  employed  in  thefe  articles,  a.'^d  one  half 
of  the  fill:  made  ufe  of  r,  produced  in  the  kingdom. 

The  other  ftatcs  of  Europe,  except  Spain  and 
Italy,  are  obliged  to  procure  from  abroad  the  whole 
of  the  filk  neceflary  for  the  manufacfturcs  which  they 
have  eftabliflied,  in  imitation  of  thofe  of  France. 

If  tli-re  be  added  to  the  advantage  which  thefe 
circumftances  give  to  ttie  French,  their  fingular  ap- 
titude for  the  manufacture  of  every  article  of  luxury  ; 
their  incredible  fecundity  in  varying  thefe  articles; 
the  abfolute  and  general  empire  allowed  them-  over 
the  taflc  and  mode  which  prcfide  in  thefe  manufac- 
tures; an  empire  fo  particular,  as  to  be  every  where 
copied;  no  doubt  will  remain,  that  French  filks, 

ribbons, 

*  I  might  quote,  as  a  proof  of  what  I  have  faid  in  the  courfa 
•  f  this  work,  that  even  the  regulations  which  appear  favour- 
able to  indudry,  aie  prcjuilicial  to  it;  the  new  arret  paHed  In 
favour  of  French  linens,  fubjedls  them  to  a  ftamp  duty,  under 
the  pretext  of  preventing  fraud.  The  duty  appears  moderate, 
yet  th^jnanufaftureri  are  fenftbly  injured  by  it ;  moreover  ic 
reftrains  ihem,  in  fubje(!ling  them  to  the  caprices  of  revenue 
tlerksj  and  this  does  not  prevent  fraud;  therefore,  to  prevtmt 
the  manufadlurer  from  being  robbed,  his  money  is  taken  from 
W^Wy  and  the  robbery  ftill  takes  place  j  he  would  prefer  being 
laft  to  defend  himl'elf  agalnil  thieves> 


;t- 


us. 

ICC, 

tc  a 
ion- 

the 
lu 


f?!fITED  8TATES  OF  AMIRICV.     '^         95 

riulions,  filk  ftockIn<;^s,  "ud  lace,  will  be  preferred 
to  all  others  in  the  United  States.* 

It  is  not  to  be  feared  that  they  will  be  manufac- 
tured there;  from  the  cares  whicli  the  infecfl  that 
produces  the  filk  requires,  to  the  arrival  of  the  fluff 
in  the  warehoufe  where  it  is  to  be  fold,  almofl  all  is 
workmaiiiliip;  and  the  workmanlhip  of  Europe  mufi; 
for  a  long  time,  if  not  for  ever,  be  even  cheaper 
than  that  of  the  United  States. 

The  confumptionf  of  thefe  articles  cannot  be 

very 

*  Yet  Lord  Shefileld  gives  for  competition  with  France,  Eng- 
land and  Spain*  It  is  to  be  obferved  tliat  England  cannot  un- 
t^ert.ike  with  advant.ige  thofe  manufactures  wherein  gold  and 
filver  are  introduced,  nor  in  general  thofe  which  have  for  their 
bafis  the  ufe  of  brilliant  metals.  Fire  is  necefTuy  a  an  agent 
in  fuch  mantif-clureS}  and  3  coal  fire  is  prejudicial  to  them. 
The  atmofphere  in  Eni;land  is  perpetually  charged  with  ful- 
phiireous  vapoars,  where  cintadl  taini/hes,  in  a  very  little  time, 
gold  and  filver  lace,  &c.  and  this  perhiips  is  the  motive,  which 
more  than  maniuTS  has  baniHisd,  and  will  for  ever  exclude  this 
kind  of  luxury  from  England;  and  it  Is  not  a  misfortune. 

"I"  Our  defigo  being  to  dilFuade  the  fi'ee  Americans  from  wlfh- 
Ing  for  manufa^lures,  we  ought  not  to  lofe  the  prcfsnt  oppor- 
tunity of  defcribing  to  them  the  abufcs  and  inconvenicncies  in- 
feparable  from  thcfc  eftablirtiments.  There  is  none  which  has 
\)Z(\  more  fuccefs  in  France  than  that  of  filk.  Yet  fee  the  fright- 
ful delcription  given  of  it  by  M.  Mayet,  diredlor  of  the  manu- 
fadures  of  the  K.ing  of  Prulfia,  in  his  Memoir  on  the  manu- 
fdft'jres  of  Lyons.  (Paris,  Moutard  1786,)  He  indicates  as 
caufes  of  the  uecadency  of  the  manufactures,  the  drunkennefs 
of  workmen  on  Sundays,  the  infection  of  their  difmal  lodgings, 
bankiuptcies  which  are  the  refult  of  ignorance  and  difiioneity, 
the  ccilation  of  work  during  court  mournings,  which  occafions 
fome  workmen  to  emigrate,  and  others  to  ftcal,  the  mifconduft 
cf  revenue  officers,  the  monc  p(»ly  of  filk,  &c.  abufes  fo  much 
the  more  alarming,  fays  M.  Mayet,  as  they  are,  for  the  mofl 
part,  the  oft'springs  of  luxury,  and  which  are  produced  either 
by  acquired  riches,  or  the  thirl  of  acouiiing  them  j  it  feems  as 
if  they  could  not  but  fpring  up  in  manufadlures.- 

Who  can  recommend  the  eftablirtiment  of  manufadlures,  oa 
reading  the  following  reflexions  of  the  fame  author  ? 

*'  The  concurrence  of  manufadlureb  neceffitates  their  cheap-- 
^  <*  nef»:  to  have  a  preferenge  of  file,  h  is  neceflary  to  fell  at  a 


I:    'I 


!  > 


i   .'i 


I'll 


M 


^*  1 

n 

.fj  h 

'! 

'i  P 

t 

11' 

M 


M 


I  ,' 


^4  ON  THK  COMMKRCF,  OF  THK 

very  coiifidcrabic  tlu're,*  if  America  takes  advi\ii. 
ta^^e  oi  that  openiiii;to  which  n.iture  calls  her.  Rib- 
bons excepted,  tlic  reft  are  proper  lor  great  cities 
onlv;  wlure  vanJtv  be.iiii  inceflaiiilv  excited,  makes 
drcfs  a  delirabie  aiui  almoft  ncccHary  object,  iiut 
tliefe  great  cities  will,  without  doubt,  be  very  rare 
in  the  United  States.  It  is  Hill  more  certain  that  the 
confumplion  of  lilks  does  not,  at  p/refcnt,  form 
there  a  confidcrable  article;  tliat  it  will  anf,mcnt  but 
very  flowly,  and  in  a  manner  almofl  inienlible.  The 
Americans  oui^ht  undoubtedly  to  be  con^j^ratulated 
upon  it.  Their  manners  will  be  good  and  iimjile  as 
long  as  they  do  not  contract  a  want  of  thrfe  articles; 
but  if  thev  do  not  want  them  for  rhcmlelves,  thcv 
will  havcoccafion  for  them  to  form  branches  of  their 
fmuggling  commerce  with  the  Spaniards.  Nature 
invites  them  to  carry  on  this  commerce  in  an  advan- 
tageous manner,  both  by  fea  and  land.f 

It 

'*  lov;er  prire;  the  wages  of  workmen  murt-  therefore  he  modc- 
**  rare,  and  they  mult  gain  no  moie  than  will  find  them  in 
**  neceflaricp  v  the  workman  muft  never  be  rulTcted  to  enrich 
*'  himfelf.  In  b?co5ning  rich,  he  becomes  ilifTicult,  exa<^in;r, 
**  enters  into  cpniblo-itions,  iinpofss  laws,  betomes  dif.ip.it  i< 
**  and  idle,  he  caufcs  the  price  of  workn'.anfhip  '■o  Incrcalr.,  ?.nd 
**  manufad^uies  to  fai'."     Thus   rich  stu»^        oucht  to 

BE  W  A  T  E  p.  E  D  W  1  T  H  T  H  E  T  £  A  R  S  0  K  THE  \  ;  C  R  K  M  A  N  WHO 
MANUFACTURES    T  H  »  M  . 

Ought  not  thii  lad:  phrafc  to  difgiift  the  free  Americans  for 
ever  with  the  mania  of  rnanufaflirreii  of  luxury  ? — l.cx  thcin 
rcfleft,  thnt  to  fupport  the  fiik  m.mufadures  of  Lyons,  the  finis 
author  propofes  to  the  King  of  Fiance,  to  facrlficc  his  tafle  f^r 
fimpljcity  of  drt-fs,   and  to  wear  brilliant  clothes,   &c. 

*  Lord  Sheffield  fays,  that  it  is  not  the  fifth  part  of  IndiJH 
filks,  &c.  but  what  fignifici  this  calcilation  ?  The  country 
which  confumes  the  greatell  quantity  of  filk  ftuffj,  does  nor, 
l»e  haps,  confunic  the  twentieth  part  of  that  wl.ich  Lord  Shef- 
ii^ld  means  by  Indian  filks. 

f  This  commerce  will  be  better  eftablinaed  by  land— The 
rifics  there  will  be  lefs— The  great  rivers  which  water  thofe  im- 
menfe  countries  will  fav  ur  it.  A  maritime  commerce  nuiil 
be  protedled  by  a  naval  force,  and  the  nature  of  things  will  hiii..- 
ciet  the  Americans  from  having  one  for  a  long  time  to  come. 


\ 


UNITED  STATES    0^     AMERICA.  95 

Tt  is  known  that  u'rctclicil  iiulividunl^,  wlin  vs^C" 
tate  in  South-America,  nialKrs  and  Ihvcs,  all  l]y\\ 
'liter  nothinj^  but  luxury,  [)oinp  and  drefs.  Jilegaiu 
and  fliining  fluffs  of  France;  lier  filks  and  laces  will 
th.ereforc  be  fought  after,  demanded,  and  boug!:t  u[) 
\vil!i  avidity. 

However  it  may  be  with  refpe*^  to  tliis  commerce, 
which  c\i(ts  but  in  futurity,  nnd  which  nuift  be  pre- 
ceded by  other  circuniftanccs,  there  is  at  prefent  a 
certain  confumption  of  filks,  ribbons,  ike.  in  the 
United  States;  and  tlie  French  ouL'Jit  to  be  anxiou,^ 
to  liij){)ly  them. 

I  will  obferve  u[)on  this  fubjcv^,  that  if  the  French 
government  ordered  that  the  regular  packet-boats 
going  from  France  and  America  fliould  receive  as 
much  merchandize  on  board  as  their  defti nation 
would  permit,  little  ventures  of  our  filks,  flutfs,  rib- 
bons, gauzes,  (lockings,  &:c.  would  be  frequently 
fent  out,  and  thefc  articles  would  ferve  better  than 
any  other  toellablifli  \niinterrupted  connexions,  and 
which  by  the  infight  they  give,  and  the  experiments 
which  they  afford  an  opportunity  of  making,  con- 
du(5t  nature  herfclf  to  thofe  great  commercial  inler- 
courl'es  to  which  we  ought  to  afpire.  • 

The  facilities  which  packet-boats  offer  for  the 
fending  out  of  merchandize  of  value  and  of  little 
incumbrance  ought  not  to  be  neglected,  fince,  in 
this  clafs  of  merchandize,  we  havt  things  which  have 
a  decided  preference.  I  will  return  to  thofe  packet- 
boats  which  it  is  important  to  keep  up  and  to  increafe, 
and  it  is  to  be  wiflied,  that  ho  monopoly  of  right  or 
fad  may  take  poirelfion  of  them,  in  order  to  carry 
one  branch  of  commerce  in  exclufion  of  others. 


1    t. 


I 


fll 


I'   V 


:1 


y 


SECTION 


■■:■  ■  f 


OIT  THE  COMMERCE  OP  THB 


^*, 


!i  i 


SECTION  VII. 

Hats. 

Although  a  fine  hat  be  called  a  beaver,  it  docs  not 
follow  that  Canada  and  the  United  Northern  States 
are  more  favourable  to  the  fabrication  of  hats  than 
France.  Hats,  purely  of  heaver,  do  not  wear  well, 
and  are  inconvenient  on  account  of  their  weight. 
The  finefr,  handfomeft,  and  bed  hats,  contain  but 
little  of  the  fur  of  that  animal,  which  we  ctteem  at 
too  high  a  price,  when  we  think  of  the  lofs  of  Ca- 
nada. Wool,  the  furs  of  the  hares  and  rabbits;  the 
hair  of  goats,  which,  in  fa^t,  is  wool,  and  camels 
hair,  are  more  necefTary  for  making  of  hats  than  the 
£wY  of  b  :;avers. 

The  few  hats  made  of  beaver  in  the  United  States 
will  be  fufficient  for  their  confumption. — The  Ame- 
ricans mud,  however,  be  inceflantly  told  this  great 
truth,  that  manufadlurcs  are  not  proper  for  them  ex- 
cept in  thofe  articles  which  are  immediately  alTociated 
with  agriculture,  and  which  facilitate  its  operations. 
That  of  hats  is  not  of  this  kind. 

Eu»pe  will  therefore  furnifh  hats  to  the  Ameri* 
cans.  And  of  what  great  importance  is  this  obje(5t, 
when  the  rapid  increafe  of  their  population  is  con- 
fidered?  It  may  be  affirmed,  that  every  nation  ca- 
pable of  fending  them  out  merchandize,  will  fend 
them  hat«;  but  thof«=*  of  France  will  have  the  prefe- 
rence. This  manufacture  had  there  its  origin.  The 
French  alone  have  carried  it  elfevvhere,  like  many 
other  things;  but  it  has  never  ceafed  to  improve  iu 
France. 

French  hats  are  always  the  beft  fulled  and  dyed, 
and  the  moll  agreeable.  When  government  (hall 
haverefolved  to  do  for  wools  that  which  it  has  done 
for  mulberry  trees,  the  manufadure  of  hats  will  be 
£o  much  the  more  advantageous,  as  wc  fhall  be  Icfs 

tributary 


%s 


t>t 


L'^^iTLD   STATES  OF   AMERICA.  <)7 

rribut;irv  to   forcigiiiers  for  the   articles   emplovcd 
•tlitreii). 

SECTION  VIII. 


;|i. 


Leaih 


icr 


S/iot'Sy  BootSy   Saddles^  ^c. 

To  what  cmife  ought  the  great  fiiperiority  of  Eng>- 
l-ifh  leatl'.er  to  be  attributed  over  ours?   Why  is  there 
in  this  leather-work  of  all  kinds  that  neatnefs,  that 
fcducing  appearance,  which  we  have  not  yet  ap- 
proached?   It  mufl  be  repeated,  that  in  England 
men   honour  the  profeffion  of  a  tanner,  and  pride 
themfelves  upon  it,  whilft  it  is  the  contr.iry  in  France. 
An  Englift*  tanner,  flioemaker,  or  faddler,  does  not 
quit  his  trade  when  he  is  rich;  but  makes  his  riches 
ferve,  in  proportion  as  they  augment,  to  give  In  lire 
to  his  profeffion,  to  multiply  his  workfliops,  to  ex- 
tend his  affairs,  to  become  important  even  in  the 
«rticlc  v\'hich  has  furniflied  him  the  means  of  doing 
it.     The  leather  which  comes  from   the  tanneries 
whofc  owner  is  in  eafy  circumftances,  is  always  well 
prepared,  bccaiife  he  can  advance  fums  of  money, 
?.nd  give  to  hides  the  time  neceffary  for  their  progrefs 
through  his  tan-yard.     A  poor  tanner  is  always 
prelTed  by  his  wanting  to  take  the  leather  out  of  the 
tan-pit,  where  it  is  neceffary  it  fliould  remain  a  long 
time  to  acquire  a  good  quality.     In  general,  it  is  im- 
poflible  with  this  penury,  Unknown  to  the  Englifli, 
that  there  fiiould  be  time  to  manufacture  or  fabricate 
good  merchandize.     Thofe  who  employ  the  leather, 
acquire  no  reputation  in  their  profelfions  but  in 
proportion  to  great  provifions  made  before  hand, 
which  puts  it  in  their  power  to  furnifli  nothing  but 
leather  improved  by  being  kept.     It  will  be  afked, 
how  the  v\'holefale  dealers  manage  when  they  begin 
'buiinefs?    They  find  credit,  if  in  their  apprentice- 

K.  lliip.s. 


K% 


I}''"-?     i'i 


9^  ON   IHK  COMMERCE  OF  THli 

Ihips,  which  precede  their  eftablilhments,  they  have 
'acquired  a  good  reputation.* 

This  credit  is  then  fiipported,  not  only  by  the 
certainty  of  fuccefs,  but  alfo  by  that  of  feeing  them 
become  a  conftant  means  of  confumption. 

Such  is  the  art  of  the  Englifli  to  fupport  and  in- 
creafe  their  commerce  in  every  thing,  ajid  every 
ivhcre.  If  we  could  put  it  in  pra£lice,  all  our  com- 
modhies  of  leather  would  foon  equal  the  perfe<5tioa 
of  theirs,  fince  we  do  not  otherwife  want  materials. 
Their  being  beforehand  with  us,  ought  not  to  dif- 
courage  any  body;  but  it  is  necelTary  to  the  fuccefs 
of  this  rivality,  that  government  fliould  deliver  the 
tanners  from  the  fliackles  with  which  thev  have  fet- 

tered 


•  Wc  may  readily  perceive,  that  this  hope  of  Leing  fome  day 
'^t\\  eftabliflied  with  great  fuccour?,  is  worth  ali  the  books  of 
morality.  The  engravings  of  Hogarth,  which  reprefent  the 
fate  of  the  idle  apprentice,  paint,  to  the  life,  Engli/h  manners. 
The  intention  of  the  workman  is  not  to  become  Secrej'aiiie 
DU  Roi.||  He  marries  the  daughter  of  the  good  m?fter  who 
has  brought  him  up,  and  fucceeds  him  in  the  fame  bulmefi  which 
he  has  contributed  to  extend. 

It  is  not  that  the  French  tannf,r,  who  barters  his  profefl^on 
againft  a  brevet  of  Secretaire  du  Roi,  or  commiflary  of  wj^r, 
ought  to  be  blamed.  He  reafons  vvell.  He  fees  thi\t  no  coi<^- 
fideration  is  attached  to  talents  and  induftry^  and  he  delays  nut 
to  buy  himfelf  a  title.  It  is  therefore  wrong  to  joke  merchani* 
and  artizans,  who,  for  money,  get  themfelves  enregiftered  in  a 
privileged  clafa.  It  is  an  evil  to  the  ftate,  but  it  is  not  the  fault 
of  thofe  who  purchafe.  The  fault  is  due  to  the  kind  of  difgrace 
from  which  government  has  not  yet  delivered  the  ignoble, 

.  It  ought  to  be  obferved  here,  how  fatal  the  fpeculation  which 
eflrabliftied  this  order  of  things  has-been  to  the  nation.  To  pro- 
cure money,  offices  were  created}  which,  bv  ennobling,  induces 
the  ignoble  to  purchafe  themj  they  arc  difgufted  with  their  fuua- 
tion  by  being  diflionoured,  and  for  a  few  millions  of  livres, 
which  ihis  pitiful  operation  flnwly  procures,  commerce  is  ruined 
by  having  its  cap'tal  diminiflied  :  that  commerce,  which,  by 
being  fupported,  would  continually  produce  millions  to  the  flatc* 

II  A  petty  title  of  bought  dlAinflion,  which,  in  the  language 

,  Qf  ridiculous  pride^  is  condrued  into  nobility. 


to 

f! 

till 

tvl 
wl 

tc 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


9^ 


,  tered  them,*  and  fupprefs  or  diminifli  the  enormous 
duties  with  which  the  tanneries  are  loaded. f 


I"     ;    '■' 


.^f 


ti 


Kz 


SECTIOIvf 


*  Tw.T  caufes  have  Angularly  contrlbutec!  to  ruin  the  tan- 
rCiiesin  Fiance.  The  confiJerable  duties  impofed  fucce/^v/ely 
Xjpon  leather  (fupprelled  afterwards  in  part  through  prudence) 
and  elFcntially  the  fcvere  Infpeftion  that  the  commis  (in  this 
cjl'e  a  kind  of  excifeman)  may  make  every  hour  of  the  day  and 
night  at  the  tanners.  Nothing  difj^ufts  a  inan,  who  has  fome 
energy,  more  with  his  profeflion,  than  this  difgraceful  fervitude, 
than  the  fear,  than  theconftraint  which  arifoa  from  the  ilea  of 
being  difturl^d  at  every  moment,  by  his  fire-fiJe,  by  contempti- 
ble fatellitcs  who  live  on  the  mifchief  only  whicli  they  do,  and 
whom  the  certainty  of  impunity,  intereft  and  habitude,  renders 
unmerciful,  infolent,  and  frequently  perjured. 

Conllderablc  procefles  have  been  feen  to  arife  from  thefe 
▼ifits,  and  very  rich  tanners  to  quit  a  profclTion  vihich  promifed 
them  ♦nothing  but  torment,  anguifts,  lofii  and  law  fuits.  It 
will  be  a  long  time  before  the  evil  which  the  farm  has  dor." 
to  the  tannanes  be  repaired.  Interefted  men,  who  think  ta 
confole  us  fo'  real  evils,  which  we  fiitl'cr,  by  thofc  which  ihey 
fuppofe  amon,  our  neighbotrs,  fay  and  repeat,  that  the  fame 
vexation  of  commis  and  of  cultoms  prvodu.es  In  England  the, 
fame  effefts.  This  may  fometimes  hjpi  en  j  but  there  is  a  law 
to  punifli  them,  without  a  hope  of  pardon,  when  they  overleap 
the  boundaries  prefcribed  to  them.  And  thefe  boundaries  are 
mucli  more  contradled  than  ourc,  whicli  dis  following  fidt  will 
convince  i^s. 

Two  officers  of  the  exclfe,  having  taken  it  into  their  headi 
to  followr  a  man  carrying  a  hamper  of  wine  to  the  houfe  of  a 
particular  perfon,  entered  with  him  hi  contempt  of  the  law; 
the  m^fler  of  the  houfe  called  fome  conftables  and  charged  them 
with  the  ofRcer5 :  they  were  taken  before  Alderman  Harnett, 
who  read  the  Adl  of  Parliament  to  the  culprits,  and  fent  then* 
to  prifon,  for  having  violated  the  rights  of  citizens. 

Mercure  politique  1786,  p.  ",2:6, 

f  The  following  is  a  lift  of  tluties  paid  on  leather,  whether 
It  be  French  or  foreign  5  and  ic  rauft  be  here  obferved,  that 
the  leather  of  France  is  far  from  fupplying  our  wants.  We 
get  the  grcatdl  part  of  that  which  v\c  confume  frcm  the  Spa- 


'U 


lOO 


©N   THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


SECTION  IX. 

Glafs  Houfes. 

Engliih  glafs  ware  is  brought  to  great  perfecfiion, 
and  England  makes  it  a  great  objedl  of  exportation ► 

America. 

nil}!  and  Portuguefe  colonies,  from  the  Levant,  and  from  the 
coaft  of  Barbary. 

Green  leather,  French  or  foreign,  pays  on     livres       fols 
entering  the  kindom  by  the  hundredweight         x  5 

Leather  worked  ap  or  Canned,  pays  after- 
wards the  fo!lowin.7  duties 

Lea:hcr  and  ficins         -       zf.  per  pound' 

Coat  fkins  -  4 

Ten  fuis  per  pound,  which  gives  more  up- 
on leather  -         -         i  * 

Goat  fkins         -         -        2 

General  average         -         46 
and  by  the  hundred  weight  -  -  23  10. 

C  a '.loui  to  the  general  farm         -         -  a  o 


Total 


IS 


Leather  and  /kins  pay  a  duty  of  a  third  of  the-.r  value. 

When  in  1759  a  duty  wasimpofed,  the  king  ordained  that 
thefe  two  fols  upon  leather  and  ikins,  and  the  four  fols  upon 
goat  fkins,  fliould  be  reimburfed  to  the  manufailurer,  when  he 
ihould  have  fent  his  merchandize  abroad. 

But  adminiftration  demanded  and  obtained  leave  to  reim- 
burfe  two-thirds  only. 

Since  that  time  thera  has  been  a  new  import  of  ten  fols  jier 
pound,  which  makes  the  duty  one.  fol  more  upon  leather,  and 
two  fols  upon  goat  fkins. 

This  new  duty  has  completed  the  ruin  of  the  tanneries. 

There  is  another  abufe,  which  merits  to  be  obferved.  It  Is 
that  the  adminirtration  receives  its  duties  undiminished  upon 
leather  half  rotten,  fcraped  or  tanned. 

After  thefe  fadls,  it  may  be  comprehended,  that  the  tanners 
in  France  are  reduced  to  a  fvnall  rumber,  and  are  in  general 
mifirable. 

An  import a?it  note  relath'  to  the  article  of  leather. 
The  note  on  the  duties  paid  on  leather,  is  true  with  refpc£V 
to  the  reality  of  the  duties  j  but  v<-e  have  been  convinced|  fince. 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


ICI 


An^.enca  ought  to  prefer  Englifh  glafs  to  ours,  be- 
caufe  we  ourfelves  prefer  it  to  that  of  our  own  ma- 
iiufa6tory,  common  bottles  excepted,  wliich  we 
make  letter,  and  which  are  of  a  lintr  glafs  than  that 
of  the  EngliQi.  But  although  this  opinion  may  hurt 
the  intereil  of  thofe  who  have  fuch  eftablillimcnts, 
it  is  necellary  to  fay,  that  France,  far  from  encou- 
raging them,  ought  to  wifu  for  their  clefi:ru<5^ioD, 
This  kind  of  manufacture  deftroys  combuftibles,  of 
which  the  rapid  progrefs  is  alarming,  when  it  is  com- 
pared to  the  flownefs  with  which  they  are  produced. 
The  Englifii,  feated  upoi  their  coal  mines,  are  little 
iineafy  about  the  voracity  of  furnaces  wherein  glafs 
is  melted;  but  althougii  it  be  laid  that  we  have  the 
fame  advantage,  It  is  dill  permitted  to  doubt  of  ir. 
And  moreover  it  is  not  fvifficient  to  have  immenfo 
coal  mines  under  foot,  it  is  neceffary  to  be  able  to 
work  them  at  a  little  ex  pence.  Glafs  manufa»5toric:, 
placed  within  the  reach  of  mines,  fliould  not  be  too 
far  dilfant  from  the  fea,  for  the  tranfports  becoming 
expenlive,  would  give  to  the  Engliih  an  advantagf* 
over  uSj  who,  from  every  part  of  their  ifland,  can  eafily 
get  to  the  fea.  Finally,  our  own  confumption  of 
glafs- ware,  much  greater  than  that  of  the  Englifii, 
may  already  be  too  confiderable,  if  it  be  compared 
with  the  means  to  which  the  ever  growing;  fcarcit'/ 
of  combuftibles  reduces  ns.'*" 


:t 


!"  ', 


M 


i, 


K3. 


To 


the  note  was  printed,  tliat  a  middle  price  cannot  be  fetilcj  br. 
tween  hides  and  calf  and  goat  ikins.  There  are  ac  leafl  two 
hundi  J  pf  the  two  fiift  for  one  of  the  Ia(h  We  have  been 
equally  convinced,  that  the  hundred  weight  of  ikins  bQUj;hc  at 
thirty-feven  llvres,  and  fold  after  the  tanning  at  ftxty-fcur 
livres  fixteen  fols,  produces  to  the  tanner  a  profit  of  no  more 
than  Ave  livres  five  fol?. 

This  eafily  explains  how  the  tanners  have  been  ruineJ. 

Translator. 

*  The  fcarclty  of  wood,  which  begins  to  be  manifcft-,  be* 
comes  fo  much  the  more  alarming,  as  combuilibles  which  hav;? 
b;«n  attejnpcsJ  to  be  fuUtitutcd  for  it  hmyz  net  fuccccdsi,  an4 


.1 


20?- 


ON  THE   COMMERCE  OF  THE 


ii 


To  be  fully  convinced  that  we  ought  not  to  put 
^lafs-ware  into  the  lift  of  articl<"s  of  exportation  to 
America,  it  is  only  ncceflary  to  reflect  upon  the  fitua- 
tion  of  the  United  States.  They  have  immenfe  forefts 
to  clear,  confequently  it  is  highly  proper  that  they 
fliould  eftablifh  glafs  manufa^o.ies,  and  increafe 
them  as  much  as  poirible.  The  labour  er^ployed  to 
deftroy  the  woods  for  the  clearing  of  lands,  at  the 
fame  time  that  it  difpofes  the  land  to  culture,  will 
lerve  for  the  produ6tion  of  a  very  extenfive  object 
of  manufa<flure,  therefore  the  utijity  of  this  deftruc- 
tion  is  double  to  the  Americans.*  It  cannot  be 
ciQubied,  that  this  confideration  will  ftrike  them,  that 
they  will  one  day  conceive  the  proje6l  of  furnifliin^ 
Europe  with  glafs-ware,  of  adding  this  article  to  thofe 
which  they  can  exchange  for  fuch  European  pro- 
du6Vions  as  are  improper  for  little  ftates  to  cultivate 
or  manufacture  within  themfelves.  It  can  be  no- 
more  doubted,  that  France  will  gain  greatly  by  ^eeing 
her  glafs  manufactories  deftroyed  by  thofe  of  the  A- 
mericans,  who  will  fell  us  glafs-ware  in  exchange 
jlpr  our  wines,  cloths,  printed  Imens,  (ilks,  &c.  In 
the  mean  time,  it  would  undoubtedly  be  a  falutary 
meafure,  to  open  the  kingdom  to  the  inaportation  of 
foreign  glafs^ 

SECTION. 


that  luxury  and  population  naturally  Inclined  to  increafe,  cfpe- 
cially  with  commerce,  the  confumption  ofcombuftiblcd  will  be 
doubted. 

*  This'is  what  is  done  !n  Ncw-Jerfey  for  the  forges.  It  \i< 
Impcfliblc,  fays  the  author  of  the  Cultivatiur  ^meri> 
CAIN,  to  travel  acrofs  this  province  without  meeting  with  fome 
little  iron  forges.  If  a  proprietor  has  a  great  marfh  full  of- 
wood,  and  that  he  wi/hes  to  clear  it,  he  begins  by  making  a 
d)ke  at  one  extremity  to  flop  the  water  of  the  rivulets  which 
run  acrofs  it.  He  fixes  in  this  water  the  wheels  neceffary  for' 
tV^e  manufafture  of  iron,  &c.  And  in  a  fmall  number  of  years 
me  traveller,  who  had  fcen  in  paffing  by  nothing  but  a  vaft 
pond  full  of  trees  thrown  down,  and  had  heard  thenoifeof  haia-- 
mers  aud  anvils^  fees  wsU;Aclufed  fields^  vaAmeadowi;  &c«. 


VJflTED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


SECTION    X. 


103; 


Iron  ami  Steel. 

The  confiimptian  of  thefe  two  articles  is  immenfe 
in  the  United  Stares;  the  fingle  article  of  nails 
amounts  to  confiderablc  fums.  This  will  not  appear 
extraordinary,  when  it  is  remembered,  that  all  the 
hoiifes,  all  the  inclofures  of  the  Ameicans,  are  of 
wood,  that  they  build  agreat  number  of  ftiips,  which 
require  frequent  reparations. 

it  is  the  lame  with  refped*  to  faws,  Ihovels,  hoes,, 
and  in  general  all  the  inftruments  neceflary  to  agri- 
culture and  navigation. 

The  Americana  are  Angularly  curious  in  the  choice 
of  the  firft  neceflity.  They  have  therein  the  gene- 
mi  tafle  of  the  Engliflvj  tliey  will  have  that  only 
which  is  good.  On  comparing  thofe  which  they 
make  themfelves  with  the  tools  made  in  France,  it 
mud  be  acknowledged  that  we  are  far  from  that  per- 
fection at  which  they  arc  arrived  in  them:  this  per- 
fection is  owing  to  the  eafe  of  the  labourer,  and  to 
the  confideration  attached  to  agriculture.  Imper- 
fection is  a  neceflary  confeqttence  of  rcftraint  and 
diflionour. 

The  Americans  have  attempted  to  make  iron  and 
fteel.  Many  manufactories  have  been  fet  up  at  New- 
York,  in  New-Jerfey,  and  in  Pennfylvania:  it  is 
true  that  thefe  manufactures  are  few  in  number,  but 
they  will  neceflarily  increafe  for  the  reafons  which 
1  fhall  hereafter  give. 

England  heretofore  exported  a  confiderable  quan^ 
tity  of  iron  and  fteel:*  her  mines  not  having  yet  fur- 

niflied 


\4^ 


II 


m 


'•■ti: 


^1     I 


«  To  favour  the  exportation  of  thefa  articles,  the  parliament 
had  forbidden  all  the  eftablifliment  of  mills  and  other  machin-s 
in  the  United  States  for  making  of  AeeU  See  25  Geo.  II  ch. 
29.  it€t,  10. 

It  tna/  be  Judged  by  this  clrcumftance  to  what  a  point  the 


ra4  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  TlfE 

iiilhecl  iron  proper  for  certain  inftruments,  flie  had 
recourfe  to  thofe  of  Ruflia,  and  efpecially  to  thofe  of 
Swec.hnjWhofe  iron  and  fteelare  nioft  edeeined.  She 
did  no  more  witli  regard  to  America  than  Hand  be- 
tween her  and  others,  and  this  circuit  augincnted  the 
expeiices  of  the  colonift,  without  procuring  him  any 
benefit.  This  will  exift  no  longer,  becaule  the  A- 
mcricany  are  about  to  trade  directly  with  the  Swedeis 
and  Ruflians. 

Lord  Sheffield  calculates,  that  one  year  with  ano- 
ther England  imported  50,000  tons  of  foreign  iron, 
of  which  from  15  to  20.000  was  afterwards  exported 
to  the  colonies  either  in  its  natural  Hate  or  worked  n  j>. 

The  profit  to  the  mother  country  was,  according 
to  his  Lordfliip,   12,000,000  lives,  or  thereabouts. 

During  the  war,  and  line e  the  peace,  fome  exports 
of  this  kind  have  been  made  from  France  to  the 
United  States;  but  they  did  not  fucceed.  Accuftom- 
ed,  according  to  the  principles  of  monopolizers,  who 
have  hitherto  directed  our  foreign  commerce,  to  fur- 
nifli  our  colonies  with  brittle  utenfils,  and  othervvife 
very  imperfeft,  our  merchants  were  willing  to  treat 
the  independent  Americans  like  their  flaves  in  their 
iflands;*  and  the  Americans  refufed  our  merchan- 

dife. 


mother  country,  or  rather  the  monopoliser?,  can  carry  avarl- 
cioufnefs}  fince  the  Americans  were  forbidden  to  enjoy  thofe 
advantages  which  nature  had  thrown  before  them.  Monc-. 
poly  refpefts  nothing.  When  thefe  attempts  are  confidered, 
ought  we  to  be  furprlfed  at  the  eternal  mifunderftanding  be- 
tween colonies  and  the  mother  country,  a  mifundcrftanding 
which  finifhps  either  by  the  ruin  of  the  former,  or  their  fcpa- 
ration.  from  the  latter  ? 

*■  The  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Marfeilles,  in  an  inflruc- 
tion  very  well  drawn  up,  addrefled  in  I75>4  to  the  merchants, 
had  recommended  them  to  adlcontrarlly— *'  Recoiled,"  faidit, 
**  that  you  have  no::  ignorant  or  enflaved  colonifts  10  treat  with, 
*•  but  a  free  people  j  and,  confequently,  rapidly  tending  to  per* 
*'  feftion.  If  you  wifti  to  fucceed,  adl  with  fidelity,  upon  cx«^ 
**  tended  and  liberal  views,"  Sec.  &c. 

1  have  not  read  tills  iaftrjiwtion.    A  man  of  letters,  who  has 


had 

e  of 

She 

he- 

the 

anv 

.V 

edes 

ano- 
iron-, 
)rted 


rNITEDSTATES  OF  AMERICA.  105 

dife.     They  faid,  that  we  did   not  even  know  how 
to  make  nails;  and,  in  ftrift  truth,  they  were  right 
in  their  aflertion.     They  preferred  the  iron  and  fte'-l 
of  England,  ahhongh  the  duties  on  exportation  iu 
creafed  their  dearnels. 

It  is  [>robable  enough  that  the  EngHHi  leglflature 
will  fuj)prers  them  according  to  the  advice  of  Lord 
Sliellieid;  and  this,  joined  to  the  benefit  of  the  ceco- 
nomy  procured  by  the  difcovery  of  LordDundonald, 
and  of  Meflrs.  Watts  and  Boulton,  for  heating  fur- 
naces at  half  the  common  expence,  will  undoubtedly 
produce  a  reduction  in  the  price  of  iron. 

This  diminution  is  one  of  the  caufes  which  muft 
neceiririly  hinder  us  from  attemptingarivality  in  this 
particular  with  the  Englifli.;  but  there  is  another, 
which  is  fliil  more  decilive. 

In  fa(5l,  the  oDfervations  made  heretofore  upon  the 
neccffity  of  deftroying  our  glafs  mannfadtories,  ap- 
ply naturally  to  that  confiderable  branch  of  iron- 
work, of  which  the  workmanfliip  is  the  leaft  ex- 
pence,  and  which  requires  n  great  quantity  cf  com- 
buftible  materials.  The  United  States  are  obliged 
to  (Jpftroy  their  immenfe  forefts:  France  ought,  oii 
the  contrary,  to  think  of  re-producing  hers:  there- 
fore, the  founderies  and  forges  will  offer  in  America 
tlie  advantage  of  turning  to  profit  vioods,  which, 
without  thefe  manufa(flures,  it  would  be  equally  nc* 
celTary  to  burn:  vvhilfl  in  France,  wood  and  char- 
coal becomino;  everv  dav  more  fcarce  and  dear,  ren- 
ders  thefe  eftablifliments  nnore  expcnnve.  Now,  as 
the  abundance  in  which  iron,  mines  are  every  where 

founil, 

refide<}  a  long  time  in  the  country,  has  given  me  the  Ideas  of  It, 
which  I  have  related.  We  muft  not  be  furprifcd  to  fin4  in  the 
merchants  of  Marfeilles  intelligcRce  on  commerce  so  rare 
ANY  WH£RE  ELSE.  Lcfs  ihacklcd,  commetcc  muil  c.Ter  more 
folid  ideas. 

The  fame  energy  is  found  in  an  excellent  Memorial  on  tha 
Franchifes  of  this  city,  lately  publiiheJ  againit  the  general  farmj^, 
and  of  which  wefhali  have  occafion  to  fgck. 


'iV 


■  '*\ 


x;^ 


m 


.♦»■ 


■■'i': 

r 


I06  OK  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THS 

found,*  makes  the  price  of  iron  depend  almoft  ctr- 
tirely  on  that  of  combuftibles  neceitiry  to  melt  it,  it 
is  evident  that  the  United  States  have  over  us,  and 
even  over  the  Englifh,  a  confiJ.erable  advantage. 

Moreover,  forges  are  a  part  of  the  equipage  necef- 
fary  to  country  labour;  for,  if  it  were  neceflary  to 
feek  at  a  diftanoe  the  utenfds  of  agriculture,  the  pro- 
grefs  of  clearing  of  lands  would  loon  be  ftoppcd-— 
the  productions  would  not  pay  the  expences.  Thefe 
would  ftill  be  increafed  by  the  repeated  neceiTity  of 
fubftituting  nev/  utenfils  to  thofe  which  there  would 
be  no  means  of  repairing.  As  foon  as  the  people 
Luvp.  mines  of  iron — as  foojii  as  tliey  are  led  by  the 
nature  of  things,  and  by  necefiity,  to  eflablifh  foun- 
deries  and  forges,  it  is  not  a  long  time  before  they 
renounce  all  foreign  aid  in  the  articles  of  ironjj- 
therefore,  the  Americans  are,  as  I  have  obferved, 
already  provided  with  thefe  eftablifliments:  and  as 
JSnglifli  induftry  has  eftabliflied  and  direCted  them, 
they  are  all  at  that  degree  of  perfeftion  which  we 
have  not  yet  attained.. 

Let  it  be  remarked,  that  thefe  manufsftures  hemff 
joined  to  a  life  of  agriculture,  and  carried  on  ii>the 
midft  of  it  for  its  ufes,  can  have  none  of  the  perni- 
cious influences  which  ought  to  be  feared  in  thofe 
complicated  manufactures  which  are  obliged  to  be 
concentrated  in  the  inclofures  of  cities,  whofe  dc- 

ftru<5live 

*  It  is  now  proved,  that  there  are  many  of  them  In  Ame*- 
rica.  Mines  of  tin,  and  of  very  good  copper,  have  alfo  been 
difcovtrcd  there. 

"f-  Perhaps  nails  muft  be  excepted.  Their  price  will  be  a 
long  time  in  Europe  lower  than  in  j^merica.  If,  as  Mr.  Smith 
aflerts  in  his  Treatifeon  the  Wealth  of  Nations,  a  young  man 
of  twenty  years  of  age  can  make  2,400  nails  a  day,  let  it  be 
judged  to  what  a  degree  of  cheapnefs  low  priced  workmanfiiip 
©ughc  to  reduce  them;  therefore,  wherever  workman/Iiip  is  dear, 
nails  cannot  be  made.  Yet  wc  read  in  the  American  Gazettes^ 
that  there  has  been  eftabliihed  in  one  of  the  States  a  manufacture 
e£  nails..    Will  this  fuccced?— Futuritj-  will  fliew  us. 


riHTED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


107 


.' 


ilruclive  employ  exhanfls  the  natural  flrength  of 
men,  by  corrupting  their  morals. 

Therefore,  to  refiime  this  article — far  from  en- 
couraging the  exportation  of  iron  maniifaiftureci  in 
Frai^ce,  we  ought,  for  our  own  intereft,  to  encou- 
rage the  importation  of  foreign  iron,  hecaufe  manu- 
(iiiflures  of  this  kind  take  away  combudibles  from 
Things  morepreflingly  wanterl,  and  from  ItTs  deftruc- 
live  manufactures,  where  workmanfhip  ;|j«foduces  a 
greater  profit.  -^ 

This,  however,  is  not  the  cafe  with  ev^  article 
of  curiofity  of  iron,  ileel,  or  copper  work,  wlicrcin 
the  workmanfliip  exceeds  t  le  other  ey})ences,  Tiiey 
belong  to  that  weak  organization  which  the  Ameri- 
cans ought  not  to  envy.  But  it  mull:  nor  be  diflimu- 
lated,  that  a  competition  with  the  Englifh  will,  on 
this  head,  be  diilicult  to  maintain:  their  great  ability 
and  addrefs  in  the  diitribution  of  work  and  different 
procefTes,  the  invention  of  which  has  not  been  con- 
ftraJned  by  any  error*  or  falfe  view  of  the  admini- 

ft  rat  ion 

*  Thofe  falfe  views  cannot  be  too  much  deplored— thofe  nar- 
row ideas— 'thofe  fears  of  ignorance,  which  fnatch  from  the 
hands  of  induftry  the  liappy  inventions  which  are  proper  to  en- 
rich a  whole  nation  !  Who  can  calculate  the  riches  that  England 
owes  to  the  folc  application  of  the  coining-mill,  or  engine  and 
dye,  whofe  free  ufe  ha^  been  left  to  all  the  manufaftures  which  • 
it  was  capable  of  improving  in  accelerating  their  cffedls  ?  How 
mj^nj  proceedings  more  ingenious  and  expeditious  has  this  ma- 
chine produced?  Happily  for  England,  there  have  not  been' 
found  in  hsr  bofom  thofe  able  minifters,  who,  leeing  th.it  this 
machine  is  of  ufe  in  making  money,  have  drawn  from  it  the 
profound  confequence  that  every  one  would  make  falfe  money 
if  the  free  ud  <n  it  were  permitted  :  as  if  it  was  pofiible  to  make 
falfe  money  for  a  long  time ;  as  if  the  more  general  ufe  of  the 
machine  did  not  awaken  the  public,  and  even  private  intered, 
and  render  them  more  attentive  to  abufes  which  m-ght  be  com- 
mitted j  as  if  its  ufe  would  not  produce  much  more  benefit  to 
the  revenue,  than  it  could  deprive  it  of  by  the  falfe  coinage  of 
money,  which  can  never  be  either  tfxtenfive  or  dangerous.— 
^When,  therefore,  will  thofi  who  hold  the  reins  of  empire  calcu- 
late like  ilatefmenr 


y> 


y  1 


loS  ON  THli  COMMERCE  OF  THL 

fh'alion  of  F.nglamI,  give  them  over  iis  a  conficler- 
ablc  acl vantage;  yet  it  is  not  impollible  I'or  us  to  l):i- 
lance  it,  for  tliis  diflribution  of  work  ami  jMOcecci- 
ings  are  neither  fecrets  norfiiperior  to  French  inchif- 
try.  J.ct  government  adopt  arjd  follow  the  trivial 
maxim — '  Whowillhavetheendwillfind  the  means.' 
J.ct  it  in  confequence  not  interdict  any  of  the  means, 
and  this  indudry  will  not  fiave  to  envy  the  fiiccefj-  of 
our  rivalf 


SECTION 


m 


'it  \n  true  tiiat  at  prefent  art'fts  are  permitted  to  have  ml'ls," 
&c.  by  conforming  thcnifclves  lo  certain  formalities,— always 
formalitifs  ?  No  otlier  are  required  in  England  than  thofe  cf 
being  able  to  pay  the  expcncc  of  the  machine,— and  has  Eng- 
land perceived  from  't  any  pernicious  t/Fe(5Vs  ?  lii.i  falfe  money 
ovLVturtied  public  order,  impovcrifhed  the  nation,  or  dimini/lied 
her  revenues  ?  • 

Willi  what  difficulty  has  the  invention  of  the  colnlng-mill 
made  its  way  into  France  ?  It  is  due  to  an  induftrious  French- 
man of  the  fifteenth  century,  named  Briois.  Pcrfecuted  for 
this  difcovcry,  he  was  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  England  j  the 
linglifh  received  him  favourably,  and  put  his  invention  iiitr» 
execution.  Another  Frenchman  of  the  name  of  V/arIn,  of 
the  laft  cenMiry,  wifhed  to  procure  the  advantaj^cs  of  it  to  his 
countrynienj  he  experienced  alike  abfurd  perfecution  j  and  with- 
out the  fupport  of  the  Chancellor  S«quicr,  he  would  have  failed 
in  his  attempt.— I  do  not  allow  mjfelf  to  fpeak  ot  the  per* 
l'c6tion  to  which  M.  Droz  pretends  to  have  brought  the  coin- 
ing mill  at  prefent;  but  by  tlie  vexations  he  fufifcvj,  it  may  be 
judged  that  he  has  in  fa€l  fimplified  that  machine,  that  he  has 
rendered  fewer  hands  neceii'ary,  and  the  coina^'?  of  money  mt-re 
perfeft  and  expeditious  j  two  advantages  very  precious  in  this  art, 
»s  the  experces  of  it  cannot  be  too  much  reduced,  and  the  ex- 
actitude and  perfctflion  of  the  ftamp  of  money  are  the  fureft 
means  of  difconccrting  coineri.  What  fatal  genius  is  it  there- 
fore which  purfues  induftry  in  France  ?  That  of  companies, 
of  corporations,  of  privileges.  As  foon  as  a  happy  difcovery 
attacks  their  profits,  they  em;  loy  tven  the  bafeft  means  to  de- 
fend them  J  intrigue,  falfehood,  fedu£lion,  are  all  legitimate 
with  the  people  which  qompofe  thofe  afTociations,  whilft  the 
man  of  genius,  (landing  alone  for  the  moft  part,  and  who  at- 
taches too  great  3  value  to  his  time  to  pror':ituce  it  to  ihefe 
manrsuvres,  geneiaily  exnericnces  the  mod  liumiliating  difgu.li. 


IINITED  ITATES  OF  AMEXICA. 


10^ 


SECTION  XI. 

'  ^fXtlleryfioiJ  ami SHverfmiths^  Artkh'sfihch'Tjoyhy  (ifc. 

If  the  inhab'.tants  of  the  United  States  concentrate 
their  labours  f.nd  plcafurc  in  a  life  of  hiilbandry  ;  if 
they  continue  to  feek  happinefs,  not  in  pomp,  but  in 
nature  herfelf,  and  in  a  fimplicity  of  manners-,  in 
that  fimplicity  which  naturally  produces  eafc,  and 
the  population  and  profperity  of  Itates;  they  will  not 
feek  after,  but  dildain  plate  and  jewels,  to  which  we 
attach  fo  great  a  price.  They  will  ref-^rve  precious 
metals  for  mints  and  commerce.  It  U  not,  '.owever, 
to  be  prefumed,  that  this  order  of  things  fhould  long 
fubfift  in  great  cities,  and  efpecially  in  frequented 
ports;  European  tafle and  wants  prevail  in  America,* 
and  French  induftry  ouglrt  to  be  anxious  to  rnp[)Iy 
-their  confumption,  feeing  that  t'le  French  can  un- 
.derfellthe  Englifli  in  thefe  articles. 

But  it  is  probable  that  the  plated  ware  (copper 
plated  with  lilver)  invented  in  England  will  take 
place  in  the  United  States  of  that  of  filver  plate,  as 
painted  paper  has  wplaced  there  much  more  expen- 
five  hanging  ;  this  new  fort  of  plate  has  for  ufe  all 
the  advantages  of  the  other,  and  cods  a  great  deal  lefs. 

How  comes  it  that  the  Englifti  are  already  fo  ad- 
vanced in  this  branch  of  induftry,  whilft  there  exifts 
in  France  but  one  or  two  mauufadures  where  copper 
is  plated  on  one  fide  only,  and  lilvered  over  on  the 
other?  How  have  the  Englifti  already  carried  this  in- 
vention to  fo  high  a  degree  of  pcrfedtion  ?  How 
have  thev  made  of  it  a  matter  of  extcnfive  commerce, 

L  whilft 


*  Plate  jsufcv  in  the  Southern  States— magnificence  is  feefi 
■there;  on  which  account,  traveUci's  liaving  but  lUtle  philofopliy, 
fpeak  highly  of  them  :— but  obferve  wh  ii;  is  attached  to  thit 
luxury,— flavery  reigns  in  the  South,  and  there  are  many  poor. 
—There  are  none  in  tlxe  Noithcin  St*tcs,— no  plate  is  iherif 
uki. 


m 


%  i 


110  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

whilll  we  are  reduced  to  the  two  manufa^ures 
M'herein  no  progrefs  is  feen,  and  wiiere  the  inferiority 
of  the  workmanlhip  difgufls  thofc  who  would  other- 
wife  find  it  to  their  advantage  to  make  ufe  of  this 
kind  of  plate  ? 

Thefe  manufa^lures  have  anexclufive  privilege.-: 
there  is  the  word — Government  fearing  It'll  falfe  mo- 
ney might  be  made  in  them,  has  forbidden  even  the 
plating  on  both  (Ides. 

Reafoning  would  here  be  fuperfluous:  it  is  fuf- 
jfiCiMit  to  open  the  eyes  to  fee  which  of  the  tv/o  ad- 
miniftrations  has  bed  ferved  its  country;  whether  it 
be  that  of  England^  by  not  cramping  induflry,  and 
in  not  giving  way  io  fears,  whofe  illufion  is  fnewn 
by  the  moft  trifling  obfervation,  or  ours,  in  follow- 
ing a  contrary  plan..  Again,  was  it  apprehended, 
that  counterfeit  crowns  would  be  made  by  miliions; 
as  a  facrifice  is  made  to  this  fear  of  an  induftry 
which  would  certainly  produce  many  millions  of 
them? 

Thus,  when  we  confider  all  thefe  articles,  wherein 
trifling  confiderations  Ihall  be  our  induftry,  and  con- 
demn to  mediocrity  our  means  of  profperity;  when 
we  thence  turn  our  attention  towards  the  dlfierent 
fpirit  which  governs  England,  it  is  aftonifhing  that 
induftry  ftill  exifts  in  France,  and  that  the  nation 
does  not  fall  into  floth,  and  remain  there.  Let  us 
give  thanks  unto  nature,  who  has  richly  gi'l^d  us,  and 
her  guardian  ftrength  has  hitherto  demonfcrated  itfelf 
fuperior  to  the  malignant  influence  of  the  lalfe  fcience 
of  our  adminiftrators.* 

Shall 

*  A  cunoui  an6  more  ufeful  work  would  be,  a  faithful  and 
■Qore  rational  hiftory  o»'  all  the  er'o.-;  IjUo  which  the  rage  of 
rcgujstlnj;  and  prohibiting  has  thrown  admlniftration.  It  is 
very  probal^'e  that  the  refvilt  would  be,  th.it  A  rench  commcrcs 
has  always  profoered,  in  proportion  to  the  iiiexecution  cf  rC" 
puiatlons;  that  in  caufing  them  to  be  rlgoroufly  executed, 
foreign  commerce  lia?  been  favoured  and  eniichcd.  The  fpirit 
of  InYentloo  and  -nduilry  wkich  our  prohibitory  regimen  haa 


vl 
(\ 
hi 


^^X 


fINITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


Ill 


Shall  we  remain  behind  the  Englifti  and  Swifs  in 
clock-work?  The  Americans  miifl  have  watches ; 
this  admirable  invention  carries  with  it  fuch  a  degree 
of  utility  for  even  the  poor  claiTes  of  focicty,  that  it 
ought  not  to  be  confidered  as  a  fimple  acquifition  of 
luxury,  efpecially  in  the  United  States,  where  the 
diftance  of  habitations  one  from  another  makes  the 
neceffity  of  it  moft  fully  perceived. 

But  watcher  muft  be  made  good  and  at  a  cheap  rajc ; 
thefe  two  conditions  will  alTiire  them  a  prodigious 
fale  wherever  civilization  exiils;  time  is  there  a  pre- 
cious property,  and  its  price  renders  the  inftrument 
neceflary  which  divides  it:  they  will  be  made  good 
and  at  a  cheap  rate,  when  able  artlfts  are  confiilted.^* 

This  fpecies  of  manufacture  will  always  belong  t«* 
great  cities,  where  the  excefs  of  population  keeps 
work  man fiiip  at  a  low  price,  where  the  difficulty  of 
fubfifling  enflaves  that  crowd  of  weak  and  indolent 
beings  which  are  under  the  law  of  the  rich  under- 

L  a  taker. 


«Tevel<ipec!  on  foreign  nation?,  was  never  perhaps  fufi>e£led  j 
neither  the  innumerable  quantity  of  workHiops  which  ate  there 
fonflrudled,  in  proportion  lO  the  multiplication  of  exclu/ive 
privileges  in  France.  Thus,  that  of  the  India  Company  has 
jnade  Switzerland  like  the  Eaft-Inties,  for  the  manufa^ure  ot" 
m-iflins,   and  plain  and  painted  linens. 

*  Paris  has  produced  fome  very  diftlngniihed  ones}  they 
i>onoored  their  art  becaufe  they  had  great  fcnfe  and  ingenuity, 
an-l  had  bec^.  well  inftrudled  ;  but  their  pupils,  for  the  moft  par* 
flrangcrs,  s  not  having  the  fame  means  of  gaining  confide- 
ration,  were  afraid  of  our  injudicious  manner  of  defpifing  rhe 
hands  which  work  at  mechanical  employments,  and  quitted  tli« 
country.  We  have  at  prefent  a  Swifs,  M.  Brcquet,  whofe  ta- 
lents ate  equal,  if  not  fuperior,  to  thofe  of  the  moft  celebrated 
Englifh  watch-makers.  Happily  for  us,  his  charafter,  his  ele- 
vated views,  his  obliging  zeal;  command  refpp.'£t  in  fome  niea- 
fure,  and  place  him  above  prejudices.  Let  government  confult 
him,  and  he  will  f  )on  indicate  certain  means  whereby  France 
may  have  a  national  manufacture  of  dock  and  watch-work. 

We  are  informed  that  he  has  prcfsntcd  to  the  Miniftry  a  pro- 
found memorial  upon  this  ful'jedt. 


ii 


\  ' 


;; !  iil 


t  'i 


■•k 


1 12 


OK  THE  COMIkfERCE  OP  TttE 


taker.  The  United  States  are  far  from  lufFering  this 
diiiiculty  of  fubfiftence,  this  excefs  of  population; 
they  are  therefore  far  from  thefe  manufadures. 

SECTION  XII. 

Diferent  Sorts  of  Paper ^  Jlained  Paper ^  ^c. 

This  ufeful  production  from  old  rags,  thrown  o^ 
by  people  at  eafe,  and  gathered  with  care  by  the  in- 
digent, is  daily  improved  in  France.*     The  Engliflv 
therafelves  buy  our  paper  for  printing,  and  our  writ- 
ing. 

*  The  manufa^Vnry  of  M.  M.  Johannot  d^Aunonayi  pro- 
<3irces  finer  pape-r  than  any  other  manufadlory  in  Europe,  and 
ihe  prcwif  is  fimple.— There  is  more  demand  from  Ru/fia,  Eng>. 
Ief>d,  and  Hollani^,  tor  this  paper  than  the  manufacturer  can 
furnijii  J  this  fcatcenefs  of  paper  d^Auqcnay  explains,  for  why,- 
Diir  flu>pkef!p2rs  flill  get  paper  from  Holland.     To  dimini/li  this 
fcarcity,  tliele  good  citizens  have  generoufly  offered  tocommu^ 
nicate  their  procefs  to  all   the  manufadurers  of  paper  in  the 
ration,  and  even  to  form  fchools,  wherein  the  art  of  paper-- 
jn  iking  m.iy  be  taughr.     Many  pcrfons  have  profited  by  thcfc 
cft-rs;  the  llates  ot  Burgundy  have  lately  fent  three  pupils—* 
Thefe  manufadlureis  have  proved  that  it  was  iw^t  n.ore  expen- 
tve  to  make  good  and  excellent  paper  than  that  of  a  middling 
quality.     M.  Le  Clerc,,  who  has  a  great  pnper  manufadlory  at 
Efibne,  found  with  concern  that  his  manufadtory  coft  him  a  great 
vlej),  and  produced  bad  paper  only  :    he  comamnlcated  his  re*^ 
gret  to  M.  Johannot }  the  latter  went  to  Elibne  and  produced 
good  paper  with  common  pafl.K.     This  w.is  certainly  a  great  fer- 
vice  done  to  Frsnce,  and  a  good  example  given  to  the  fordid 
^viiii<-^  of  monopolizers,  who,  not  biting  able  to  do  and  embraca 
every  ihiog,  hioder  othtrs  from  doing  it.     May  thefe  generous 
patriots  receive  that  honour  which  they  d^'ferve:  may  their  ex- 
ample be  followed  every  where  and  by  A\.     Thi«  will  he  to  thenl 
a  more  fi.ttiering  eulogkim,  a  more  brilliant  and  lafting  recom- 
penic  thart  cordons  and  ribbons,  unworthy  of  true  merit,  be- 
caufe  tliey  arc  frequently  the  price  of  intrigue,  and  the  ornaraeni   , 
of  mediocrity.     The  pUafure  of  well-doing,  and  the  fuffrages  of 
honcit  men,  arc  pure  and  unchangeable  recompenfcs.— The  artifV 
who  does  not  know  how-*)  confine  Wmfelf  to  thefe,  will  ncvet 
do  any  thing  which  is  gieat. 


ntflTED  STATES  Of  AMBRICA.  11$ 

:ng  paper  will  not  be  long  unequal  to  theirs,  if  it  does 

not  furpafs  it.* 

But  if  there  be  an  obje«5l  of  commerce  for  which 
Europeans  need  not  fear  a  reciprocnl  competition ; 
if  there  be  an  article  which  offers  to  all  European 
ma  nil  failures  a  certain  and  lucrative  employ,  it  is 
that  of  paper:  the  confumption  will  always  be  equal 
at  lead  to  the  production,  and  its  numerous  ufes  in- 
fure  a  flill  greater  confumption,  in  proportion  as  po- 
pulation, commerce,  and  knowledge,  Ihall  increafe. 

Every  nation  ought  therefore  to  obferve  without 
jealoufy,  that  each  country  ftrives  to  have  within 
itfelf  manufaftures  of  this  kind. 

Tlie  Americans  cannot  however  enjoy  this  ad- 
vantage for  a  long  time  to  come:  befides  the  dearneft 
of  workmanfhip,  their  population  cannot  furniili 
them  old  rags  in  quantities  futiicient  to  ei'lablifli 
paper  mills  whofe  productions  would  be  equal  to  the 
confumption  of  the  inhabitants. 

Will  their  population  ever  furnifli  them  with  this^ 
fufficiency  ?  This  is  a  queftion  difficult  to  refolve. 
In  fact,  in  proportion  to  the  knowledge  which  na- 
tions may  acquire,  and  to  the  liberty  of  the  prefs, 
which  may  be  enjoyed  in'  America,  a  prodigious 
quantity  of  paper  mull:  be  confumed  there;  but 
can  the  population  of  this  country  produce  rags  in 
the  fame  proportion?  It  cannot  rcafonably  be  hoped 
that  it  will.-  It  is  therefore  probable  that  the  Ame- 
rican markets  will  not  for  a  long  time  be  provider! 
with  any  other  than  European  paper,  and  that  this 
will  find  a  place  there. f 

L  3  But 

*  Rags  are  more  fcarcp,  and  confequcntlv  de.irrr,  in  "Eng- 
land than  in  France,  and  they  are  articles  of  illicit  cimnicrce 
between  the  two  countries.  .  Tliere  aie  very  fevere  laws  ag.iinft 
this  commerce ;  but  it  is,  a\d  ever  wili  be,  carried  on,  as  long 
as  there  fhall  Le  any  thing  to  be  gained  by  it, 

•j-  Rags  are  eKcelTively  dear  in  Ainerira  :  but  the  lime  is  ar- 
riving v/hen,  by  an  increafe  of  populaiim,  they  will  become 
plenty.     In  Penrif;ylvani.i  they  already  niuke  very  good  paper. 


*^1*. 


I't 


^  s 


?i4 


ON  THE  COMMf  -^  JE  OF  THE 


But  fince  the  ufe  of  paper  is  fo  advantag«!ous  to 
men,  (ince  it  is  fo  varied,  it  behoves  every  nation 
to  look  upon  foreign  confumption  as  a  fupplenient 
only,  as  an  open  port  in  the  cafe  of  a  fufpenfion  of 
interior  commerce.  It  behoves  every  nation  to  keep 
paper  at  a  moderate  price  within  itfelf,  and  to  attain 
this  end,  means  muft  be  thought  of  to  increafe  ma- 
terials which  ferve  to  compole  this  article,  and  to 
purfiie  the  happy  attempts  already  niade  to  do  it.''^' 
Thefe  rcfearches  are  fo  much  the  more  efTential,  {0 
much  the  more  urgent,  as  the  happy  invention  of 
coloured  paper  for  hanging  is  of  a  nature  always  to 
caiife  a  greater  confumption  of  paper;  and  this  man- 
ner oi  hanging  with  paper  will  fubfifl  for  a  long 

time 


H 


•  In  the  momtnt  of  writing  this  note,  I  have  before  me  very 
jntcrefiing  cA'ays  en  vf'getables,  and  on  the  bark  of  feveral 
trees,  to  transform  them  into  paper;  tliefe  efTays  are  due  to 
the  rcfearches  of  M.  Dclille,  to  whofc  care  the  manufafture  of 
Montargis  is  indebted  for  a  great  part  of  its  reputation.  He 
hga  far  fwrpafl'ed  that  Scheffe;,  whom  our  men  of  eruditioit 
have  quoted  with  fo  much  emphafis.  On  feeing  the  books 
which  M..  Delille  has  printed,  on  paper  made  from  a  fpecies  of 
mallows,  and  the  bark  of  the  linden, tree  j  and  on  perceiving 
the  advantages  which  might  be  reaped  from  this  invention,  at 
Teafl  in  packinij  and  ftamed  paper,  of  which  fo  great  a  con« 
fumption  is  made;  we  wiih  that  this  invention  maybe  more 
and  move  known,  received  and  adopted,  as  a.  means  of  remedy- 
jng  the  want  of  rags  and  the  dearnefs  of  paper,  which  ought 
to  have  more  inflwence  than  it  commonly  believed  on  the  pro- 
grefj  of  knowledge. 

It  is  almoft  impoflible  that  this  invention  fhould  not  foott 
become  genera),  and  it  is  greatly  the  iotereft  of  the  free  Ame«> 
ricans  to  naturalize  it  among  them. 

Strong  lies  of  lime  and  pot-aih,  and  the  Intelligent  ufe  of 
vitriolic  acid,  are  great  means  of  reducing  hemp  and  flax  to 
that  kind  of  fubftance  extremely  attenuated,  foft  and  brittle^ 
which  is  proper  for  making  of  paper.  It  might  be  cdntrived 
by  thefe  means  to  fupply  the  want  of  rags  by  old  cordage*. 
Thefe  would  even  ferve  to  make  good  paper,  fince  being  re- 
duced to  tow,  it  may  eafily  be  bleached.  The  attenuation  ^o^ 
be  feared  foi  linen  is  not  fo  for  the  material*  of  whjjch  papes  ui 
jnade* 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  XI^ 

timSj  becaufe  it  gives  a  neat  and  agreeable  appear- 
ance to  apartments. 

No  other  k  known  in  the  United  States;  it  is  there 
univerfal;  almoft  all  the  houfes  are  neat  and  decent.. 

SECTION   XIII. 

Printinz. 

The  liberty  of  the  prefs  being  a  fundamental' 
principle  of  the  American  conftitution,  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  printing  will  increafe  there.  But 
it  muft  be  obferved,  that  extenfive  printing  requires 
workmen  at  a  little  expence;  that  is  to  fay,  men 
without  pro;.)erty,  talents^  oreonduft;  whom  great 
cities  produce  and  employ  in  work  which  requires^ 
neither  intelligence  nor  emulation;  and  it  has  already 
been  obferved,  that  the  United  States,  unlefs  the 
rage  of  great  cities  takes  polTe(fion  of  them,  will 
contain  but  few  of  thefe  wretched  beings. 

Printing  will  not,  therefore,  it  may  be  prefumed^ 
be  extended  among  the  irtc  Americans,  at  lead  be- 
yond that  which  is  neceflary  for  the  public  prints.* 
Their  conftant  and  confidcrable  fale,  permitting  a 
greater  expence  in  workman(hip,confequently  draws 
about  the  prefs  many  individuals,  becaufe  they  have^ 
in  a  good  falary,  a  \'\t\\  of  the  means  of  becoming 
proprietors  or  traders. f 

The 

*  Gazettes  are  fingularly  muItiDllcd  in  the  United  States. 
They  will  become  ftill  more  To  with  an  Increafe  of  population, 
and  this  is  an  advantage,  for  they  are  what  that  excellent  pa- 
triot, Dr.  Jebb,  called  them,  **  Centinele  which  watcli  ever 
public  liberty  and  the  prcfervacion  of  truth." 

■f-  However,  confiderable  works  are  fometimes  printeil  in  the 
United  States,  and  of  which  the  edition  is  carefully  enough 
cone£ted.  ]  h«ve  feen,  for  inflance,  th^  Memoirs,  in  quarto, 
of  the  Academies  of  B^fton  and  PhiLuieiphia,  of  the  laft  year, 
which  proves  at  the  fame  time  that  free  America  is  not  fo  totally 
without  typograpliicai  eftablifliments,  and  that  the  inhab'tanta 
are  not  all  fuch  idiots  ai  a  prejudiced  Qerman  dreanoed  they 


■1 


!.i « 


! 

i 


ir 


$ 


ON   THE  COMMF.l^rt'or  TTT'-E 


!!' 


11 

i|: 

•;  i 

S^Hr 

1              ' 

ml 

■  i 

Jk 

m 

m 

m 

The  fnrnifliing  of  books  oi  friencc  nnci  a;nii((;. 
meiit  muft  therefore  make  a  confideralvle  objeft  nt' 
importation  into  the  Uinted  State?.  It  U  for  France 
to  appropri.ate  to  herfelf  this  commer''.%  anri  to  en- 
courage the  impreilion  of  Englifli  book^'.  Our 
workmanfliip  being  cheaper  than  that  of  England, 
and  the  Engliili  nnikitig  ufe  of  our  paper,  our  bind- 
ing being  lefs  expenfive,  why  iliould  not  all  the 
books  in  which  the  Americans  fland  in  need  of  be 
printed  in  France? 

It  win  be  faid  that  we  do  not  enjoy  the  liberty  of 
the  prefs, — be  it  fo: — But  it  is  only  with  refpedl 
to  our  books;*  for  undoubtedly  the  adminiftration 
does  not  pretend  to  extend  its  coercive  principles  to 
books  written  in  foreign  languages;  it  would  not 
attain  its  end,  feeing  that  it  does  not  do  h:  with  re- 
fpei^to  French  books  ;f  and  by  this  impolitical  ri- 


gour 


*  UnJcrr  the  reign  of  L'tuls  XIV.  whofe  ambition  extended 
to  every  thing,   it  was  ferioufly  attempted   to  malce  the  French* 
Ungunge  univerfal.     This   abfurd   pretenfion  was   rtdiculoufly ;; 
f'jpported   by  the  tyranny  exercifed   upon   books   hnci  authors.  ' 
This  tyranny  could  not  but  produce  bad  ones,  and  confequent- 
ly  difgurt:   fttangers.      Happily    fome  judicious   men    had   the" 
crnragc  to   make  facrifires,    and   to  get  their   works  printed 
abroad.     It  is  ihefe  prohibited  books  which  have  eniichecj  the 
Fnnch  language  and  incrcafed  the  reputation  ©f  French  litera- 
ture.    What  authors  arc  heard  quoted  in  every  couiitry  ?   Rouf- 
I'eau,  Voltaire,   Helvefjus,  Montefquieu,  &c.  that  is    to   fay,: 
men  who  have  been  patriotic  enough  to  violate  the  tyrant's  laws 
of  the  prefs. 

•f  So  that  even  more  than  half  of  the  llhrarlffs  In  France  are  ■ 
campofed  of  French  books,  printed  abroad,  for  which  there  arc' 
two  caufeS'—thr  cheapnefs  and  goodnefs  of    the  books;    the: 
OCTAVO  leaf  printed,  is  commonly  fold  m  Switzerland  to  the 
public  at  nine  derniers  or  a  i\j],  and  it  cofts  three  or  four  fols 
in  France.     Prohibited  books  are  fold  at  Paris  at  the  fame  price 
as  bookfi  permitted,  wkich  proves  the  dearnefs  of  French  print- 
ing.»— Far  to  the  original  price  of  prohibited  books,  there  muit 
be  added  the  txpences  of  carriage,  rlfks  of  entry,  the  commif-. 
fions  of  different  agents,  &c,  With  refped  to  the  goodnefs  of  the 
works,  th«  belt,  as  I  have  already  obfcrved,  are  printed  abroad: . 


tTNITED  STATES  or  ANTERreA.-  XX'f 

fmx  France  would  be  (ieprived  of  a  lucrative  articlii 
of  commerce,  certain,  and  of  continnal  increafe. 

The  Dutch,  fo  adive  and  vigilant  in  feizing  the 
rifing  branches  of  commerce,  have  for  a  long  time 
fpecuiated  on  books  in  the  United  States;  many  bi- 
bles and  books  of  [)rayer,  for  the  ufe  of  the  Ame- 
ricans, are  printed  in  Halland.  Lord  Sheffield  i» 
obliged  to  acknowledge,  that  printing  in  Holland  is 
by  far  more  cheap  than  that  of  England,  and  of 
courfe  mud:  iiave  the  preference.  They  will  foma 
fl^y  extend  this  commerce  to  clalTical  books.* 

SECTION  XIV. 

Salt, 

This  article,  fo  neceflary  to  the  Americans,  and  fb- 
abundant  in  France,  mult  not  be  forgotten  in  the  enu- 
meration of  commodities  to  be  imported  into  Ame^ 
rica.  The  Americans  will  for  a  long  time  be  obliged 
to  get  it  from  Europe;  not  that  they  have  no  fait 
marfties  upon  the  coalh,  and  fait  pits  in  the  interior- 
parts  of  the  country;  but  thefe  marflies,  thefe  fait 
pits,  mull  have  hands  to  work  them;  and  hands  are 
better  employed  in  the  United  States. f  The  fait  ex- 
ported* 

Helvetius  has  fald  with  reafcn,  **  On  ne  dit   t..a  vrRiTF, 

<l.UE    PANS   LES   L IV  RES,    PROHIBES,    O-N    MINT   BANS   L£« 
AUTR  CS." 

*  A  man  of  letters,  who  had  remarked  the  deamefs  of  Eng» 
Ihli  books  in  France,  and  how  ditncult  ic  was  to  get  them  rVoin 
Enghnd,  thought  of  getting  th*^  bid  Englifh  v'orks  re-pr'nted 
in  Pnris.  This  was  a  (peculation  rs.^lJy  patriotic— he  abandonei 
it  after  having  got  a  few  volumes  re-printed,  probably  becaufd 
the  ccnfumption  in  Fr-incc  was  not  great  enough ,  and  that  of 
England  was  not  open  to  h'm.  He  might  at  prefent  revive  it  \ 
indej-endent  America  picfcnts  a  great  opening  to  hira. 

-j-  Salt,  during  the  late  war,  was  very  dear  in  America  }  tt 
was  worth  twenty  times  its  ordinary  price— The  deprivation  of 
this  article  was  very  fenfibly  felt  by  the  Americans,  wh.>  con«. 
fume  much  falted  provifionj  and  giye  a  great  (quantity  or  fsilt  t^, 
their  cattle., 


I* 


i 


Il8  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THB 

ported  from  Europe  will  for  this  reafon  be  a  long 
time  cheaper  than  that  of  America: — moreover,  its 
freight  will  coft  but  little,  as  veflelsfrom  Europe  may 
be  ballaftcd  with  it.  The  Americans  ought  to  give 
the  preference  to  French  fait;  it  is  lefs  fliarp,  lefs 
corrofive,  and  poifefles  a  better  quality  for  falting, 
than  any  other  European  fait. 

The  three  millions  of  inhabitants  which  the  United 
State^r  contain  at  prefent,  are  fnppofed  to  confume 
fixty  million  pound  weight  of  fait,  without  reckon- 
ing that  vv'hich  is  given  to  cattle,  and  that  employed 
in  falting  provifions;  of  which  great  quantity  is 
confumcd  in  the  United  States,  and  with  which 
they  will  cnrry  en  a  commerce  more  and  more  con- 
fiderable:.  I  will  not  at  prefent  go  info  a  calculation 
of  the  immcnfe  riches  whicli  the  furnifliing  of  made 
Mi  to  foreign  population,  continually  increafing, 
would  produce  to  France.  I  ought  to  guard  againrt 
exaggerations:  but  it  may  not  be  improper  to  ob- 
ferve,  that  a  confiderable  part  of  the  States  of  the 
North  will  never  make  any  fait.  It  is  therefore  pof- 
fible  that  French  fait  may  have  a  preference  among 
them,  as  being  cheaper  and  more  within  their  reach  : 
the  population  of  thefe  Hates  will  be  more  rapid  than 
that  of  the  others,  and  the  commerce  more  varied 
and  extenfive. 


ii 


SECTION  XV. 

General  Confideratmis  en  the  Catalogue  of  French  J/ufor^ 
tatiom  into  the  United  States, 

I  will  extend  no  further  the  lift  of  articles  which 
French  commerce  may  furnifli  to  the  United  States: 
there  are  many  others  whicih  I  omit,  becaufe  the 
bounds  of  my  work  will  not  permit  me  to  examine 
any  more  than  the  principal  ones. 

If  faith  be  given  to  the  calculations  of  Lord  Shef- 
field, and  of  other  political  writers,  it  appears  that 

thjt 


"united  states  or  amehica. 


119 


*tlK  amount  of  the  exportations  of  Great-Britain  into 
free  America  was,  upon  an  average,  cnlcuhtecl  upon 
three  years,  taken  before  1773,  near  three  millions 
flerling,  upwards  of  fcventy-tuo  millions  of  livrcs 
toiirnois.  How  much  will  it  increale  in  following 
the  progreflion  of  population,  and  clearing  of  lands? 
It  is  efpecially  for  this  future  flatc  of  things  that 
France  ought  to  prepare  her  means. 

Let  it  be  alto  obi'crved,  tliat  this  commerce  cm- 
ployed  feven  or  eigl.t  hundred  veflels,  and  about  ten 
thoufand  Tailors. 

Ought  France  to  let  flip  fo  important  a  commerc, 
and  a  means  fo  natural  of  fupporting  her  marine? 
For  without  commerce  there  can  be  no  marine.  Has 
not  file,  in  the  richnefs  of  her  foil,  in  a  variety  of 
her  manufat^ures,  in  the  low  price  of  her  workman- 
fhip,  in  the  induftry  and  tafte  of  her  inhabitants,  iii 
her  population,  and  in  the  lituation  of  her  ports,  an 
infinity  of  means  fufficient  to  eftablifli  in  America  a 
folid  and  e?;ten(ive commerce?  It  mull  b?  continual- 
ly repeated,  that  if  it  be  wiflied  that  peace  fliould 
reign  upon  tiie  earth,  the  words  preference  ami  compe- 
JifioHf  which  are  frequently  fignals  of  difcord,  muft 
be  uled  with  circumfpe<5tion.  Why  ihould  there  be 
any  jealoufy  with  refpe6l  to  this  commerce?  In  the 
courfe  of  time  independent  America  will  offer  a  field 
■wide  enough  for  all  the  European  manufafturcs. 


CHAPTER 


tio 


OtC  THE  COMMERCE  OF  TSE 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Of  the  Articles  ivhich  Independent  America  may/wrnifi 
in  return  f 01-  Importations  from  France, 

JTxRRIVED  at  this  part  of  my  work,  I  cannot  do 
better  than  confign  to  it  the  letter  addrefled  by  M.  de 
Calonne  to  Mr.  Jefferfon,  Minifter  Plenij)ot.ciitiary 
from  the  United  States  of  America. 


LETTER 

AddreJJed  to  M.  JeffirfoHy  Minifter  Plenipoientiary  from 
jhe  United  States  of  America  to  the  Court  of  France, 


biR, 


Fontainhkaii,  2 2d  O^vler^   1786. 


•  The  King's  intention  being  to  favour  as  much  as 
polfible  the  commerce  of  the  United  States,  I  have 
the  honour  to  communicate  to  you  fome  dii'pofitions 
-nTade  for  that  purpofe. 

By  u  letter  of  the  9th  of  January,  1784,  to  the 
Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  I  inform.ed  him,  that  inftead 
of  two  free  ports,  prom i fed  by  the  treaty  to  the 
United  States,  the  king  had  determined  to  grant  them 
four,  which  lias  been  effected;  and  I  promifed  him 
to  confidcr  the  cuftoms  and  duties  on  importation 
and  exportation  which  fhackle  commerce;  obfer/- 
ing  to  him,  that  thefe  objects  required  condderable 
application;  they  have  fiOt  yet  been  completed.  By 
another  letter  I  informed  the  Marquis,  that  his  Ma- 
jefty  had  fupprefled  the  duties  on  the  exportation  of 
brandy,  a  meafure  which  he  hoped  would  be  ufeful 
to  American  commerce;  I  afflired  him  alfo,  that 
the  duties  of  .the  king  and  admiralty,  payable  by  an 

Americaa 


m 


UNITED  bTATLS  OF  AMI. RICA. 


I2t 


American  vellcl  on  its  rivrival  in  a  port  of  France, 
ihould  be  tliminidied;  and  afterwards  that  inch  of 
thcni  as  remained,  (liould  be  reduced  to  a  lingle 
duty,  to  be  regulated  according  to  tlie  number  of 
iTialts  or  draught  of  water,  and  not  according  to  the 
two  uncertain eltimation  t>f  g«Higing.  Thisreducftion 
requires  an  exa^t  knowledge  of  all  the  duties  received 
in  the  ports,  and  as  they  are  of  various  f[)ecies,  the 
ftate  which  I  ordered  to  be  drawn  up  of  them  has  not 
yet  been  given  in. 

You  know.  Sir,  tlie  king  has  charged  a  particular 
committee,  to  examine  our  commercial  connexions 
with  the  United  States,  and  that  the  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette  has  laid  before  it  a  project  analogous  to  the 
ideas  contained  in  your  letter  to  the  Count  de  Ver- 
gennes:  but  you  null  perceive,  how  imprud^'nt  it 
would  be  to  haza»*d,  by  a  change  of  fyi^em,  the  pro- 
duce of  a  branch  of  revenue,  which  amounts  to  twen- 
ty-eight millions  of  livres,  without  falling  upon  any 
objed  of  the  firll  necellity.-i  After  an  ample  difcuf- 
fion  of  every  thing  which  might  at  prefent  favour  the 
importation  of  tobacco  from  America  to  France,  it 
has  been  decreed,  not  that  the  agreement  made  with 
Mr.  Morris  Ihould  be  departed  from,  but  that,  after 
Jie  expiration  of  it,  no  other  of  the  fame  import 
ihould  be  made;  and  that  in  the  mean  time  the  Far- 
mers General  fliould  be  obliged  to  purchafe  annually 
about  fifteen  thoufand  hogiheads  of  American  tobac- 
co, coming  diredtly  from  the  United  States  in  French 
or  American  fliips,  at  the  fame  prices  as  ftipulaied  in 
the  contrail  mide  with  Mr.  Morris. 

You  will  recolle6t,  Sir,  that  whilft  the  demands 
which  had  been  made  for  whale  oil  were  under  con- 
fideration,  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  made  a  private 
arrangement  with  M.  Sangrain,  permitting  him  to 
receive  as  much  of  that  article  as  fhould  amount  to 
i?ight  hundred  thoufand  livres  tournois,  and  that  I 
)iad  granted  paflports  to  exempt  this  iirft  quantity 

M  from 


m 


T£2 


ON    THE  COMMERCE  OP  TM5 


iVoni  all  (ivilics  whatfoevcr.  M.  Sangr.-iin  made  .if- 
Icrwa'tls  an  agreement  with  the  merchants  of  lioilon 
for  whale  oil,  to  the  amf)unt  of  four  liundrcd  thoii- 
fand  livres  a  year,  for  fix  years,  for  which  his  Ma- 
jcfty  has  i)r()mifed  the  fame  favo'^rs  as  enjoyed  by 
the  Hanfe  towns.  * 

This  manner  having  lately  been  examined  under 
a  more  general  ])()int  of  view,  the  adminiflration,  to 
which  the  conmiittce  has  made  its  report  comform- 
able  to  the  rcqueft  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  and 
to  your  opinion,  relative  to  the  entire  abolition  of  all 
duties  on  oils,  has  dilcovered  that  it  cannot  ccnfent 
to  it  for  the  prcfent,  on  account  of  engagements  en- 
tered into  with  other  powers.  All  that  could  be 
done  was  to  iufurc,  for  ten  years,  whale  oil,  fper- 
maceti,  and  every  thing  comprehended  under  thefe 
denominations,  coming  from  the  United  States  in 
French  or  American  {liips,thc  fame  favours  and  mo- 
deration of  duties  as  are  enjoyed  by  the  Hanfe  towns. 

His  Majefty  hopes  commercial  connexions  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  France  will  become  .ex- 
tenfive  enough  to  engage  him  to  continue  the  effeft 
of  this  provifionary  de'cilion  j  and  as  it  has  been  ob- 
ferved  in  the  committee,  that  a  confiderable  duty  was. 
paid  upon  the  making  of  the  mofl  favoured  whale 
oils,  and  even  upon  national  ones,  his  Majefty  con- 
fents  to  abolifli  this  duty  with  refpeft  to  the  former, 
and  upon  fpermaceti  coming  immediately  from  the 
United  States  in  French  and  American  fliips ;  i'o 
that  fpermaceti  and  thefe  oils  will  have  to  pay,  for 
ten  vears  to  come,  no  more  than  (even  livres  ten 
fols,  and  the  ten  fols  per  pound,  for  all  manner  of 
duty;  the  lafl  augmentation  often  fols  per  pound  to 
ceafe  in  1790. 

It  has  been  determined  to  gain  particular  infor- 
mation upon  the  confumption  in  France  of  rice  from 
Carolina,  and  that  encouragement  fliould  be  given 
to  the  exportation  of  that  article. 

Upon 


VK1TF.D  bTATi:s  OP   AMERICA.  Ilj 

Upon  the  rcprefentntioris  ^vlncli  have  been  m:icle, 
to'ichin^j  the  c<)n(ici(n":il>Ic  chitiei  i)aicl  en  the  rntry  of 
pot  afli  and  pearl  nfli,  as  well  as  relative  to  thole  of 
beaver  fkins  and  hn",  ami  raw  hides,  hh  iMajefly  hiis 
iuppreircd  all  the  duties  on  pot  alii — on  tlic  iur  and 
Ikins  of  beavers — and  on  liidcj?,  coniinj;  raw  from 
the  United  Statesj  on  bcanl  American  or  French 
vellMs.  He  will  alio  C(infider  of  p-oper  encoura^^e- 
nicnls  to  be  givtn  toevery  article  of  the  fl;lu  and  fur 
trade. 

His  MajeRy  has  cqnnlly  confentcd  to  free  from  nil 
duties,  marts  and  yards  o'  every  fpecies,  red  cedar, 
green  oak,  in  fhort,  all  tiinber  proper  for  the  con- 
lh"ui1:ion  of  veflels,  coming  from  the  United  States 
in  French  or  American  fliips.  ' 

The  conmiittee  havin^ijalfo  reprefented,  thnt  there 
n-as  a  duty  of  five  per  cent,  upon  tlie  purchafe  of 
veillls  built  abroad,  and  that  this  duty  was  prejudi- 
cial to  the  fale  of  American  veflels,  his  Majeity  has 
tiken  this  into  his  confideration.  and  exempted  the 
purchafe  of  all  fliips,  which  fhall  be  proved  to  have 
been  confl:ru6ted  in  the  United  States,  from  every 
duty  of  the  kind. 

Trees,  fmall  flirubs,  «nd  feeds  of  tree?  alfo,  pay. 
hi^h  duties,  which  his  Majeliy  has  ap/eed  to  abolifh 
upon  fuch  as  fliall  be  fent  from  the  United  States  to 
France,  on  board  French  or  American  faips. 

It  having  been  reprefented,  that  the  irate  of  Vir- 
ginia had  ordered  arms  for  its  militia  to  be  miade  in 
F'rance,  it  has  been  determined,  that  the  prohibitions 
which  have  hitherto  hindered  the  exportation  of 
arms  and  gunpowder,  as  well  as  the  duties  required 
in  cafes  of  particular  permiilicns,  flioukl  be  aboli (li- 
ed, and  that  whenever  the  United  States  ihall  wifli 
to  have  from  France,  arms,  fufils,  and  gunpowder, 
they  fhall  have  full  liberty  to  do  it:,  provided  it  be  in 
French  or  American  fliips,  and  that  thvife  r.rticles 

i\i  -1  (hall 


a.i 


124  ON  THIi  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

fliall  be  fubjecft  to  a  very  moderate  duty  only,   folely 
for  the  purpofc  of  calculating  the  exportations. 

Finally,  his  Majefty  has  received  in  the  fame  fa- 
vourable manner  the  demand  made  to  the  commit- 
tee to  fupprefs  the  conliderable  duties  hitherto  paid 
on  books  and  paper  of  every  kind.  His  Majefty 
fuppredes  ail  duties  on  articles  of  this  kind,  deftined 
to  the  United  States,  and  put  into  French  or  Ame- 
rican vellel';. 

It  is  with  pleafure,  Sir,  I  announce  to  you  thef« 
difpofitions  of  his  Majefty,  which  are  a  new  proof 
.  to  you  of  his  defire  to  unite  clofely  the  commerce  of 
the  two  nations,  and  of  the  favourable  attention  he 
will  always  give  to  propofitions  which  fliall  be 
made  to  him  in  the  name  of  the  United  States  of 
'America. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  witha  ftncereattachment, 
Sir, 
Your  very  humble 

and  very  obedient  fervant, 
(Signed)  '  DE  CALONNE. 

Your  nation,  Sir,  will  undoubtedly  fee,  witHplea- 
fure,  the  facilities  the  king  has  juft  given  to  the  ex- 
portation of  the  wines  of  Bourdeaux,  Guienne,  and 
Touraine,  and  the  fuppreftions  of  duties  granted  to 
thr.t  effeft,  by  ditFerent  Arretsof  Cou?iciI,  'vith  which 
the  Marqv.is  tie  la  Fayette  will  be  able  to  acquaintyou. 


EXPORTS 


UNITSD  STATSS  OF  AMES.;CA. 


I 


.)  • 


EXPORTS  OF  AMERICA. 


I 


WILL  treat  but'of  a  few  of  the  ariicles  which 
America  funiiflics,  on  account  of  the  atieiitiun  which 
tiiey  all  merit. 

.      SECTION  I. 


Tobac 


CO, 


Of  all  the  articles  which  France  may  procure  from 
the  United  States,  tobacco  is  the  molt  important  one 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  two  cocintries.  If  it  cannot 
be  clafTed  with  our  moft  urgent  neceffities,  it  followj* 
them  fo  clofe,  that  excepting  cafes  wherein  the  ufe 
of  it  excites  difguft,  the  deprivation  of  it  ordinarily 
difcovers  the  laft  degree  of  mifery. 

We  muft  not  be  furprifed  at  its  general  ufe. — 
The  man  greedy  of  fenfations  has  found  one  lively 
enough  in  tobacco:  it  is  perhaps  the  only  one  which 
he  can  enjoy  al  pleafure  without  injuring  his  health^ 
diminifliing  his  ftrength,  or  fufpending  h\z  work  or 
meditations.  Tobacco  awakens  the  mind  agree- 
ably, and  obfervers  who  have  remarked  the  innocent 
pleafure,  thefpecies  of  inftantaneous  comfort,  whicU 
a  little  tobacco  procures  to  a  poor  man,  borne  down 
by  the  weight  of  affliction,  have  always  wifiied  that 
fo  fimple  an  enjoyment  fliould  be  improved  and  be- 
come lefs  and  lefs  expenfive;  and  they  cannot  re- 
flect without  horror  on  the  crime  of  that  fifcal  in- 
duftry,  which,  hardened  by  monopoly  to  increafe 
its  profits,  adulterates  fnuff  fo  much,  as  to  make  it 
pernicious  to  health. . 

M  3  The : 


141 


1 

« > 


'  ■    i\ 


ii6  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  TH.E 

The  confumption  of  tobacco  muft  therefore  be- 
conie  more  and  more  confiderable,  and  the  com- 
merce of  this  leaf,  already  very  important,  cannot 
be  decreafed  but  by  the  diminution  of  its  cultivation  ; 
which  the  policy  of  America  will  never  permit. 

The  cultivation  of  tobacco  is  by  no  means  proper 
for  the  European  States,  which  have  acquired  popu- 
lation enough  to  apply  another  kind  of  cultivation 
to  all  their  good  lands. 

It  is  true  the  Alfaciens  cultivate  a  little  tobacco, 
and  they  boafl  of  it;  but  they  would  make  a  greater 
profit  if  they  cultivated  their  lands  for  provifions. 
This  experience  is  decifive  for  France,  where  none 
of  thofe  rich  lands  exifl  which  are  fo  well  known  in 
America.  It  is  therefore  the  intereft  of  France  to  get 
tobacco  from  abroad,  but  it  mud  be  paid  for  by  ler 
nianu failures;  flie  may  enjoy  this  advantage  more 
fully  with  free  America  than  with  any  other  country. 
I  will  not  repeat  the  reafons  of  it ;  I  will  obferve  only, 
that  the  free  Americans,  having  an  immenfc  extent 
of  lands  which  cannot  be  cleared  but  in  the  courfe 
of  feverai  centuries,  mull  have,  for  a  long  time  to 
come,  tobacco  to  fend  to  Furope,  fince  this  produc- 
tion pays  with  ufury  the  expences  of  clearing. 

It  is  true,  that  the  cultivation  of  tobacco  in  Ame- 
rica muft  be  fartherand  farther  from  thefea,and  that 
ihe  expences  of  carriage  may  become  confiderable. 

But  different  confiderations  place  this  epocha  at 
a  diftance;  firft,  in  cultivating  tobacco  in  none  but" 
•abfplute  new  lands,  the  cultivation  is  much  lefs  ex- 
penfive,  and  the  produce  confiderably  more  abun- 
dant; confequently  it  will  coft  much  lefs  in  a  new  foil 
than  when  the  foil  requires  more  labour  and  ma- 
nure. Secondly,  America,  interfe(?!led  in  every  di- 
rection by  rivers  and  lakes,  has  infinite  refources  for 
rendering  water  carriage  every  where  eafy,  and  con- 
fequently never  expenfive.  It  is  eafy  to  multiply 
canals,  and  confequently  coni.Tiuiiications;  no  part 

of 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


127 


of  the  world  is  fo  much  favoured  in  this  refpeft  as 
America.  Thirdly,  The  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
Mifliffippi  offer  immenfe  lands  to  be  cleared;  the 
Ohio  falls  into  the  Miiriflippi,  which  falls  in  its  turn 
into  the  fea :  thefe  two  rivers  arealmoft  everywhere 
navigable,  and  the  lands  near  them  produce  already 
excellent  tobacco,  and  will  continue  to  do  fo  for  a 
long  time.*  Fourthly,  If  the  price  of  tobacco  fliould 
be  increafed,  France  would  not  feel  the  difference, 
if  the  free  Americans,  preferring  the  culture,  con- 
tinued to  want  European  raanufa6lures,  and  gave  the 
preference  to  thofe  of  France.  According  to  this 
lyftem,  the  exchange  of  merchandize,  manufactured 
in  France  for  the  produflions  of  the  foil  of  America, 
may  be  ftill  made  with  advantage,  if  even  thefe  pro- 
du<5lions  were  fold  in  France  below  the  firil  coll  in 
America.  We  have  long  feen  the  French  commerce 
of  the  Levant  produce  great  profits,  although  the 
merchandize  brought  in  return  was  fold  at  d.  lefs 
price  in  France  than  it  coftat  the  place  where  it  was 
produced.     This  circumilance  ftill  exifls. 

T'herefore  the  fpecularion,  moft  to  the  intereft  of 
France,  is  to  take  as  much  tobacco  as  ilie  can  con- 
fume 


*  It  is  impoflible  to  view,  witliout  indignation,  that  narrow 
P'^licy  of  Spain,  which  would  fhut  out  the  Americans  from  all 
communication  with  the  Tea  by  the  MifiilTipj)!,  How  is  it,  that 
flic  cannot  perceive,  that  her  mercantile  intereft  invicei  her,  on 
the  contrary,  to  favour  this  navigation,  by  ereiling  llore  houfes 
upon  the  banks  of  this  river  near  to  its  mouth  ?  Is  fhe  ignorant 
of  the  advantages  cf  dcpalitories  ?  And  with  refpetSl  to  her  po- 
litical inteieil,  is  there  a  jjreatcr  one  for  her  in  thefe  countries, 
than  to  make  herfelf  immediately  nece(Tary  to  American  ei^a- 
bliihments,  within  the  reach  of  the  Ohio?  Muft  fhe  wait  till 
they  adopt  other  means  ?  What  will  b**  gained  by  creating  dif- 
conter.t  among  a  free  people?  If  it  be  wifhed  that  thefe  people 
fliould  not  become  powerful,  they  murt  be  deftroycdj  and  if  this 
barbarity  belongs  not  to  the  eighteenth  century,  it  ii  neceHary 
to  make  friends  of  tbeoi*  £xi>edieots  in  politic)  are  childliJBi 
aad  vAin« 


1 1 

.1 


128  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

fume  from  the  Americans,  and  pay  for  it   with  her 
manufadures.* 

SECTIOxV  II. 

Fijfierles^   Whale  Oil^  i^c.  Spermaceti  CanclUu 

Among  the  articles  of  fubfiftence  which  nature 
has  liberally  given  to  men,  fifli  is  one  of  the  mcft 
abundant,  tlie  mod  eafy  to  be  procured,  and  the  moil 
proper  to  preferve  their  iiealth  and  flrcngth.f  By 
what  fatal  privilege  is  this  food  confined  in  France 
almofl:  to  the  rich?  Why  does  nor  fifli  abound  in  ail 
places,  where  this  tribute  of  the  fea  can  be  received 
in  its  original  fiate,  and  without  being  charged  with 
the  expenccs  of  two  long  a  carriage?  Since  it  is  fo 
w-ell  known,  that  it  is  advantageous  to  a  fiate,  and  to 
every  clafs  of  citizens,  to-  procure  an  abundance, 
ajid  a  variety  of  eatables,  let  them  come  from  where 
they  will,  or  of  whatever  nature  they  be,  provided 
they  be  cheap  and  wholefome:  why  is  this  political 
rule  departed  from,  with  refpe^l  to  fifli,  to  that  all-, 
ment  which  nature  produces  every  where  with  fuch 
fecundity?  Whatever  may  be  the  motives  which 
may  repel  it  by  an  overcharge  of  duties,  they  can 
proceed  from  nothing  but  a  culpable  ignorance. 

Fully  convinced  of  the  benefit  which  muft  refuit 
to  mankind  from  an  abundance  of  provifions,  and 
from  the  facility  of  producing  this  abundance,  in 
receiving  from  each  nation  the  fuperfluity  which  na- 
ture has  given  it,  I  (hall  take  great  care  not  to  copy 
the  narrow  fyftem  of  L.ord  Sherfield  with  refped  to 

fifherics. 

*  The  tobacco  leaf,  of  which  'the  farmers  general  had  the 
entire  monopoly,  orexclufive  falcj,  produced  to  the  king  a  clear 
nett  revenue,  annually,  of  between  twenty-eight  and  twenty- 
nine  millions  of  Ilvres. 

■f  Such  is  the  powerful  influence  on  population,  of  the  abun- 
dance of  articles  of  fubfiftence,  and  efpecially  that  of  fifh,  that 
U  is  principally  to  this  article  of  life  that  the  empire  of  Ch'.n^ 
owes  the  incredible  number  of  its  inhabitants! 


oft 


pre 

to 

)*n 


$t 


"e 


UNITE©  STATES  OF   AKiCRICA, 


129 


fifiicries. — His  Lorduiip  agrees,  that  the  iiulcpen- 
cleiit  Americans  liavc,  for  the  orent  fiilicry,  natural 
advantages,  with  which  it  is  impoliible  for  the  Eu-    ^ 
ropeans  to  contend. 

In  fa6l,  the  Americans  are  near  that  part  of  the 
Atlantic  where  great  fifh  abound;  therefore  their 
filhcry  muH:  be  lefs  expenfivc  to  them.  If  accidents 
happen,  they  are  foon  repaired;  all  their  operations 
are  more  prompt  and  fure;  having  a  better  know- 
ledge of  thefc  fea,"^,  they  are  expoff  d  to  lefs  rifks  than 
Europeans:  finally,  their  proximity  to  the  fiflieries 
alTures  them  provinons  more  frelh,'*  and  puts  it  in 


trcq 


uentlv;  conle- 


ife- 


then*  power  to  renew  them  more 
quently  their  fifliermcn  enjoy  mere  conP"  .nt  health, 
and  have  older  officers  and  Tailors  amon^^  them :  thefe 
are  ineftimable  advantages  to  America. 

The  Englifli  have  very  few  of  thefe  advantages; 
the  French  fcarcely  any. — But  ought  we  to  conclude 
with  Lord  Sheffield,  from  this  order  of  things,  that 
American  fifli  fliould  be  charged  withduties,  in  or- 
der to  fupport  the  national  fifliery,  againft  this  com- 
petition? the  nature  of  things  dldates  to  France  more 
wife  and  advantageous  means. — Fifli  is  nourifliing 
— whatever  is  nourifhing  is  prolific:  if  the  Ameri- 
cans hih  at  lefs  ex[)ence  than  the  French,  (o  nnich 
the  better  for  the  laft;  fifn  will  be  more  abundant, 
and  at  a  lower  price  in  France.  Let  France  open 
her  ports;  the  Americans  will  bring  hfli  into  them, 
and  will  pay  themfelves  with  either  the  produftlons 
of  the  foil  of  France,  or  of  her  inchillry;  and  the  po- 
pulation to  vvhicii  this  abundance  and  cheapnefsare 
favourable,  will  incrcafe  the  productions  of  French 
induilrv. 

Moreover, 


i      H 


*  Such  is  th::  Advantage  of  tlie  i*rper*can?,  that  they  furni/h 
provifionsfo  the  fedentary  fiiheries  of  the  Engiiiii.  According 
to  Colonel  Champion,  th'*  prnvifions  of  Europe  aa  more  dsur, 
and  not  fo  good  ;  rhe  difference  in  favour  of  the  Americans  is 
m  the  proportion  of  four  to  fevcn:  and  it  cannot  be  oiherr/irc> 


j$o 


ON  THK  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


Moreover,  it  Is  iiecefiliry,  eiiher  to  renoiincee.x- 
terior  commence,  or  to  conient  that  there  Ih.ill  be 
fometfiing  to  exchnnge  on  both  fides.  To  wifli  to 
ellablifli  and  encourage  a  commerce  with  a  foreign 
nation,  and  not  to  leave  it  to  the  care  of  fin  nilhii\g 
that  which  it  collet^us  with  the  greatell  ficility,  is  a 
manifeil  contradiction.  The  enlightened  policy  of 
commerce  is  not  to  invade  all  the  branches  of  it,  but 
to  do  nothing  but  that  u-'ycli  can  be  done  better  and 
cheaper  than  r.ny  otlier.  Therefore,  lincethe  Aw.c- 
ricans  havefifii  on  their  coaih,  fince  they  are  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Nen-foundland,  leave  to  their  in- 
duflry  tiiat  branch  which  nature  lias  given  to  them 
in  preference;  let  us  not  difpute  it  with  them:  firft, 
bccaufe  it  would  be  iii  vain  to  do  it,  and  in  the  next 
place,  becauie  France  may  reap,  without  fifliing,  more 
advantageoufly  the  fruit  of  the  American  fiiherits. 

*'  But,"  fays  Lord  Shefiield,  "  failorsmuft  be  found 
**  for  the  navy;  and  the  fiflieries  are  the  nurferies  for 
"  them;  therefore  the  fiflieries  muft  be  fujjported; 
*'  and  no  fifli  confumed  but  that  which  wc  take  cur- 
"  lelves;  on  which  account  premiums  are  neceflhry." 

There  is  no  doubt  but  failors  are  formed  in  the 
fiflieries,  but  it  is  not  in  throv/ing  nets  or  hooks,  in  cur- 
ing or  preparing  fifli,  that  this  is  tione;  it  is  by  a  fre- 
quent and  long  exercife  on  board  veflels  in  laborious 
manoeuvres,  in  living,  fo  to  fpeak,  among  rocks,  and 
in  feas,  which  the  vicinity  ornearnefs  of  oppoUte 
coafts  makes  continually  dangerous:  novi  this  excr- 
cifeof  vigilance,  agil'ty,  and  intelligence,  is  perform- 
ed by  the  failor  in  coailinr  and  fifiiinn;  on  the  coafls 
of  his  own  country.  Let  coafting  be  frequent,  and 
let  not  this  fifnery  be  difcouraged  in  France,  and  it 
will  not  be  necefliary,in  order  to  form  failors,  to  fend 
them  fo  far  to  take  hfli,  which  they  cannot  bring  to 
Europe  without  great  expence:  by  which  the  con- 
fumption  is  confequently  limited,  and  which  deprives 
lis  of  the  inellimable  advantage  of  receivingiii  abund- 
ance, 


himl 

r'lcs 

giver 

urns. 

Go  VI 

dlffic 


*      tNlTED  STATES  OK  AMERICA. 


n^ 


ance,  that  wliich  the  iridependcnt  Americans  can  take 
at  much  lei's  expence. 

Without  doubt  the  exercifc  of  the  fiflieries  of  r!ir 
North  forms  intrepid  lailors;  and  thii  painful  life 
mufl  be  confented  to.  But  when  nature  has  p'.acec! 
men  in  a  cUmaie  where  they  have  but  a  few  (leps  to 
make  to  the  interior  of  the  country, ■•^'  to  find  an  oc- 
cupation exempt  from  dangers  and  lefs  fatiguing, 
when  they  car  get  tlieir  bread  upon  land,  under  a 
clear  and  calm  fliv,  if  he  reafons,  how  will  he  be  en- 
gaged  to  truft  his  life  to  boards,  and  to  brave  icy  feas, 
to  expofe  himfelf  during  the  fineft  months  in  the  year 
to  perpetual  florms,  which  aflliil  thefe  fifliing  banks, 
io  frequently  ilained,  by  means  of  the  mofl  fatal 
errors^  with  European  blood? 

It  v^ill  be  anfvvcred,  by  premiums,!  by  privileges, 


*  The  French  fi^  but  a  part  of  the  year;  mofl  of  the  fi!h- 
crmen  are  day  labourers,  employed  on  land,  which  they  leave 
in  the  .-nonth  of  February,  and  return  to  It. in  July. 

■f-  England  gives  conuderable  premiums  to  her  fuliermen.— • 
r^utthe  inconveniencies  and  abufes  of  the  iirfl  premiums  render 
them  of  noeffeft.     Thefe  dbufes  are  chiefly  as  follows:  The 
iilhirg  veffel  muft  go  co  a  certain  pert;   the  equipage  mull  pafs 
in  revievv  before  the  Oflkersof  the  Cult  jms;  thelhip  mull  com- 
plete her  caigo,  or  remain  three  months  at  fea  to  do  it  ',-^fo  that 
if  in  the  firft  week-fhe  procure<l  nirjc-tenths  of  it,  fhc  would  be 
obliged  to  keep  the  fea  for  the  other  tenth.     The  /hip  can  take 
no  inllruraents  but  thofe  proper   for  the  fifhcry,  to  which  the 
premium  is  applied  ;  the  cargo  cannot  be  difcharged  but  in  a 
certain  port  J  there  are  i;eneral  formalities  to  be  obfervcJ  with 
vefpeft  to  the  fak  which  (lie  carries  out  and  brings  honiej  the 
owners  are  expofcJ  to  vexations  from  CuftoHi-houfe  Officers,  to 
law  fuits  which  they  are  obliged  to  carry  on  in  courts  of  juftice, 
far  from  their  jefidence.— Judge  if  a  poor  lliherman  can  cxpofc 
himfelf  to  thefe  inconveniencies  j  thia  is  what  has  caufed  fiflie- 
rics  to  decline,  efpeclally  thofc  of  Scotland.— It  is  what  has 
given  fo  much  afcendancy  to  the  Dutch,  who  h^ve  no  premi- 
ums.    It  is  that  whiQ^h  has  rendered  premiums  ufelefs.     Otiier 
Governments  atU)pt  this  method  of  giving  piemiumi:   the  fame 
difficulties  are  .iitached  to  them,  and  yet  people  aie  ailonifhei 
lh»t  things  go  noc  on  better. 


6 


1^ 


lilt 

i 


n 


132  CK  THL  COMMKRCK  OF  THR 

and  by  prohibitions  o**  overcluirges  of  duties,  which 
are  equivalent  to  prohibitions  on  foreign  induflry. 

But  it  muil  not  be  forgotten,  that  articles  of  fub- 
fiftcnce  are  here  in  quellion,  that  thofe  forced  means 
make  thtni  dearer,  tliat  iheir  confumption  is  then  li' 
rnited,  and  their  effect  reftrainecl;  that  in  forcing  na- 
ture in  this  n-ianner,  is  doing  it  at  the  expence  of  po- 
pulation, for  by  I  '•«  b'-'  '  uoiis  regimen,  men  are  de- 
ilroyed  inilead  of  b:'  \  produced,  whiift  permiliion 
to  bring  into  fea-p  ns  ih  hfli  of  th  fe  who  iiave  no- 
thing bettcrto  do  thua  to  i  ':  *■  it,  would  infallibly  in* 
creafe  population. 

Moreover,  to  vvhonj  are  thefe  premiums  and  all 
other  favours,  with  which  it  is  wilhcd  to  combat  the 
nature  of  things,  diflributed?  Doca  the  individual 
of  whom  it  is  intended  to  make  a  failor  enjoy  any 
advantage  from  them  ?  Let  not  men  be  deceived  in 
this;  they  are  the  prey  of  the  navigator,  who  goes 
out  of  his  clofct  but  to  walk  about,  and  who  direds 
his  fleps  fometimes  toward  the  fea  fide.  He  begins 
by  taking  his  own  fliare,  and  be  pei«fuaded  that  the 
wages  v.'hich  he  offers  to  thofe  whom  he  employs  to 
condu6l  his  perilous  enterprize  are  parfimonioufty 
calculated.;  therefore  the  end  is  not  attained. 

If  there  be  an  abfolute  want  of  Tailors  who  have 
'palTed  their  noviciate  about  the  banks  of  Newfound- 
land, and  in  the  North  feas,  there  is  a  more  fimple 
and  fqre  means,  lefs  expenfive,  and  what  is  more 
important,  one  which  is  exempt  from  deflru6five 
confequences,  to  form  them.  Choofe  from  h.  nefl 
families  young,  robuft,  and  intelligent  men  ;  iidure 
to  them  a  perfonal  recompenfe,  if,  after  a  certain 
number  of  voyages  on  board  iifliing  veffels,  they 
brlag  certificates  of  good  behaviour,  and  or  experi- 
ence acquired  by  practice.  Oblige  them  to  go  on 
board  veflebi  belonging  to  nations  or  cities,  to  winch 
thefe  difficult  iiflieries  sre  a  necclTarv  refource.  It 
h  there  they  will  acquire  real  knowledge.    Thefe, 

added 


in  I' 
othcl 
oily 


1 »>» 


VTT<JlTEt>  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


»33 


ndded  afterwards  to  fnilors  exercifed  in  the  coafting 
and  in  the  fifhtTies  on  their  own  coails,  will  form 
for  the  navy  experienced  failors. 

Whale  oil  belongs  to  the  fidieries :  it  is  another  great 
article  of  commerce  with  the  United  States.  All  oil 
of  this  denomination  is  not  produced  by  whales  only; 
great  quantities  of  it  is  drawn  from  feals,  and  other 
fpecies  of  fifh. 

The  ufe  of  this  oil  is  much  reftraincd  in  France:* 
that  of  the  white  of  the  whale,  and  of  which  fueli 
fine  candles  are  made,  is  little  known  tlKire.  The 
ufe  of  oil  will  become  more  general. 

Lord  Sheffield  is  of  opinion,  that  found  policy 
makes  its  neceflary  that  the  Englifli  ihould  prohibit, 
or  at  lea  ft  difcourage  by  duties,  American  oil.  It 
was  with  this  idea  that  the  government  of  England 
impofed  a  duty  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  livres  tour- 
nois  per  ton  on  oils  imported  by  the  independent 
Americans,  to  favour  the  oils  of  Canada  and  Nova- 
Scotia. 

This  rigour  fliould  make  this  production,  which 
has  been  hitherto  profcribed,  received  in  France. 
The  introdu<ftion  of  it  is  fo  muchthemore  neceflary, 
ns  the  French  whale  filhery  is  ruined.  Bayon,  for- 
merly celebrated  for  this  filhery,  has  abandoned  it; 
Dunkirk,  which  continues  to  fit  out  vefTels,  furnilhe^ 
but  little  of  this  oil,  at  a  very  high  pnce. 

Whether  the  French  go  to  the  North,  or  towards 
Brafil,  they  will  labour  under  a  difadvantage : — 
Without  afylum  in  cafe  of  misfortune,  their  naviga- 
tioii  is  always  longer  and  more  expenlive  than  that 
of  other  nations  which  carry  on  a  whale  fifhery.  It 
is  therefore  more  to  the  advantage  of  France  to  re- 

N  ceive 


)? 


♦  By  ftatemcnts  which  deferve  Tome  faith  it  appears,  that 
In  1784,  the  importation  into  Fiance  of  whaie  oU,  and  thai  of 
other  firti  taken  bv  the  Fren;h,  wa-;  1,610,619  lb.  Foreign 
oiiy  2,748,099  lb.  Portugal  furn<ihed  almoH:  half  of  ihe  laft. 


v%. 


134  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

ccive  Araerican  oil,  and  to  pay  for  it  with  her  wines 
and  manufaftures. 

The  French  j^overnment  foon  perceived  the  ne- 
ceflity  of  receiving  the  oils  of  America.  Had  not 
this  been  done,  an  emigration  of  American  fiflier- 
men  into  Canada  and  Nova-Scotia  would  have  been 
the  confequence.  This  was  near  iiappcnip<^,  fome 
time  after  the  peace,  in  the  illand  of  Nantucket.  In 
dfifpair  on  feeing  the  ports  of  England  flnit,  and  not 
knowing  where  to  fell  their  oils,  which  alone  fup- 
plied  all  their  wants,  the  inhabitants  had  refolved  to 
emigrate  to  Nova-Scotia,  when,  on  the  moment  of 
departure,  they  received  a  letter  from  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette,  whom  they  juftly  looked  upon  as  their 
patron  and  father.  He  perfuaded  them  to  be  pati- 
ent until  the  French  government  lliould  fupprefs  or 
reduce  the  duties  on  oils,  which  have  been  reduced 
for  a  limited  time;  but  during  this  time  the  indepen- 
dent Americans  are  to  enjoy,  with  refpedt  to  their 
oils,  all  the  advantages  given  to  the  mod  favoured 
nation;*  and  this  favour,  joined  to  all  their  other 
advantages,  cannot  fail  to  give  them  a  great  fuperio- 
rity  in  this  branch  of  commerce,  as  beneficial  to 
France  as  to  them. 

The  white  of  the  whale  ifiuft  be  added,  and  the 
candles  made  with  this  fubftance:  they  are  known 
by  the  name  of  fpermaceti  candles,  and  ferve  inftead 
of  very  fine  bougies  or  wax  candles.  The  American 
Colonies  exported  of  them,  according  to  Lord  Shef- 
field, to  the  amount  of  five  hundred  thoufand  livres 

tournois, 

*  Such  are  the  duties  on  whale  oil,  &c.  paid  In  France»  ac- 
cording to  the  tarifs  of  1664,  and  1667;  whale  bone,  cut  and 
prepared  by  the  French,  l«iirty  fols  per  cwt.  fins,  three  livres  per 
cwt,  a  barrel  of  oil  of  five  hundred  pounds  weight,  three  livies. 
Whale  bone  from  foreirn  fiflieties  p.iy?,  in  the  firft  inftance, 
nineteen  livres,  in  the  fecoffd,  thirty  livres,  and  twelve  livres  in 
the  third.  The  Hanfe Towns  pay  nine  livres  in  the  iirrt:  in- 
ftance,  and  ftwcn  livres  ten  fols  in  the  Jxird.— It  isthelafl  duty 
which  the  American  oils  now  pay. 


JlO 

fixec 

tion, 

Bi 

whi( 

ncv 

feek; 

vvhe 

ino- 
0 


IJNITKD  STATES  OF   AMKRICA.  13- 

tournois,  in  tlie  years  1768,  1769,  and  1770,  cal- 
ciilntingUi^fe  candlfs  at  thirty-two  Ibis  a  pound.  It  is 
probable,  that  tlicfc  would  be  better  made  in  France. 

SECTION   III. 

Foreign  corn  anj  flour  enter  France  on  payiii;^  a 
duty  too  inconfiderable  to  make  any  lenfiblc  increafe 
in  their  price.  The  principles  laid  dowji  in  the  pre- 
ceding article,  with  reipccl  to  articles  of  fubfiftence, 
muft  be  adopted  for  the  cominuJities  of  corn  and 
flour. 

The  corn  merchant,  the  010(1  ufeful  of  all  mer- 
chants (whatever  tJie  vulgar,  who,  from  a  want  of 
information,  confounds  a  dealer  in  corn  with  a  mo- 
nopolizer, may  think  of  liim,)  fears  arbifrciry  excep- 
lion:5,  fudden  prohibitions,  andiinexpc(n:ed  ilrokesof 
anthority.  This  Hate  of  uncertainty  prevents  the 
iblid  eftabliflimeniL  of  the  true  fyllem  of  liberty, 
whence  rcfult  innumerable  inconvenicncies,  which 
Jio  other  fyllem  would  bring  on  provided  it  were 
fixed,  and  that  it  afforded  a  certain  balls  of  calcula- 
tion. 

But  how  could  a  legiflation  for  corn  be  formed 
which  fhould  not  be  one  of  liberty,  and  which  fliould 
ncverthelefs  afford  a  like  bafis.*'  This  is  impodibie; 
feeking,  firft  of  all,  the  particular  rules  for  every  cafe, 
when  thefc  are  of  a  nature  not  to  be  forefeen,  is  ieek- 
ing  for  a  chimera. 

Not  to  fall  into  contradicilon  it  is  necefTiry  to 
choofe between  arbitrary  powerand liberty — But  tiiat 
which  is  arbitrary  prel'ents  nothing  but  a  pcrfpec- 
tive  which  is  naturally  difcouraging.  No  property 
is  fafe  under  this  fyftem;  when  it  exifls,  the  mer- 
chant and  the  cultivator  are  obliged  to  hazard  their 
property  in  a  lottery,  of  which  the  chicaneries  can- 
rot  be  calculated;  for  it  is  necefldry   to  forefee  the 

N  s  '  falfe 


n 


136  ON  THE  COMMERCI  0?  TH« 

falli:  informntions,  error?,  and  manoeuvres,  of  an  in* 
tereft  different  from  their  own,  and  even  from  that 
of  the  public,  the  attempts  of  power,  Sec.  and  if  all 
thefe  confiderations  ought  to  enter  into  the  elements 
of  their  calculations,  how  can  they  fou^id  hopes  on 
fuch  a  variable  bafis? 

Liberty  confifts,  on  the  contrary,  in  the  choice 
ivhich  every  one  may  make  of  that  which  is  moft 
agreeable  to  him,  according  to  the  circumftances  of 
the  moment.  This  is  a  general  r  lie;  it  is  applicablt 
to  every  cafe,  and  the  hope  of  gain  is  always  ac- 
companied by  the  decifive  certainty  that  an  indivi- 
dual will  be  mader  of  all  his  indullry,  and  of  com- 
bining his  fpeculations  according  to  circumftances, 
which  human  power  cannot  govern. 

From  this  demojiftrated  truth,  that  in  every  ftate 
of  circumftances,  the  firft  thing  needful  to  the  com- 
merce of  grain  is  a  fixed  rule,  refults  the  necelTity  of 
embracing  the  fyftem  of  liberty,  and  of  protedling 
it  in  its  fulleft  extent,  without  oppofing  any  reftridive 
condition.* 

Governments  fliould  be  determined  by  the  necef- 
fity  alone  of  this  fixed  rule,  if  the  fyftem  of  liberty 
was  not  even  demonftrated  to  be  the  beft  in  every 
refpedt.  But  this  fyftem  is  moreover  the  molt  cer- 
tain prefervative  againft  the  alternatives  of  ruinous 
abundance  and  fcarciiy  ftill  more  ruinous,  which  are 
both  calamities,  wherever  impofts  are  conftderable. 

Lord  Sheffield  obferves,  that  Europe,  not  being 
wonftantlv  under  the  necefTitv  of  recurring-  to  Aaie- 
rican  corn,  the  United  States  cannot  put  corn  and 
fiour  into  the  clufb  of  produ(5lions,  which  found  an 

eflentiai 


•  The  Engl'ih  fometimes  prohibit  importailon  or  exporta- 
tion.—But  it  muft  be  obferved,  that  the  English  previouily  fix 
the  pr'ce  of  ccrn,  which  detertnmej  prohibitionv.  'I  his  is 
theretora   a   fixed  law,  and  which,   cjafcciueiiily   deranges  not 

fj'wtitU'.jf.  I'.lix.  ii'i  arbitrary  ti;,v. 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  ij; 

cfTential  and  cliir:ible  commerce.*     Lortl  SlicfK'^lcl  is 
niillaken.     it  is  a  truth,  which  every  man  of  ohfcr- 
vation  is  acquainted   with,  that  not  a  year  coims 
forward  without  flicwing  that  fome  one  or  more  na- 
tions in  Europe  are  in  want  of  corn.     Tiiis  want  of 
v^rain  tht^refore  being  occafionaily  extended  to  allKu- 
rope,  France  ought  to  be  anxious  to  become  the  ma- 
gazine of  It,  fince  England  was  fo  formerly.  Therf- 
lore  it  would  be  advantageous  to  conftruifl  in  the 
free  ports  opened  to  tlic  United  States  commodious 
depoiitories  to  receive  and  preferve  American  corn. 
By  this  means  corn  would  be  always  ready  to  be 
tranfporl'^d  to  the  place  where  the  jeft  price  was  to 
be  had  for  it.     Thcfe  free   ports  being  depofitoriej 
where  articles  necellarv  to  the  United  States  would 
be  colle6led,  the  commerce  of  corn  would  thereby 
acquire  a   continuation,  advantageous   to  the  two 
nations: — advantageous    to  America,  becaufe    the 
certainty  of  a  place  of  depoHt,  lafe  and  little  cxpen- 
five,  would  caufe  grain  to  be  feut  more  frequently; 
advantageous  to  France,  becaufe,  befides  the  conti- 
:uial    polTeffion  of  an   important   commodity,  »nd 
wliich  would  guarantee  it  from  every  manoeuvre  of 
interior  monopoly,  thefe  depofitories  would  funiifli 

N  3^  the. 


•  We  have  no  Hmplcexiprcnion  in  France  for  *  ft'aplc  commo- 
ilities  j'  wordj  by  which  the  EngliHi  term  tliofc  forts  of  produc- 
tions of  foil  or  induftry,  fo  natural! z'.il  as  to  form  an  eflential 
part  of  national  riches,  and  of  which  the  commerce  is  fa- 
voured by  grcit  eftabli/hinents,  fuch  as  public  buildings,  depofi- 
tories, and  places  or  markets,  deftined  to  thefe  produftions. 
Th-ife  are  called  the  staple,  whence  the  expreflion  *  ftaple 
cof.  nodi  ties'  v^as  n«   nally  formed. 

We  have  not,  like  i.'ie  Englilli,  the  happy  liberty  of  makIn.T 
words  ;  their  language  becomes  more  rich,  their  elocution  r?.pid, 
and  we  lofe  ourfelves  in  long  circumlocutions,  to  defcrlbc  a  thing 
of  which  we  want  the  name;  an  inconveni'^r.c?  more  pernicious 
to  inftrudlion  than  is  believed.  "This  remark  is  not  at  prefcnt 
ill  timed:  it  is  to  thofe  v;ho  condudl  affairs^  who  live  among 
them,  whofc  vocation  it  is  to  treat  thereon,  to  crcaLe  w<^«d3 
which  explaiathem  clearly  and  properly. 


1^^  ON  THE  COMMERCE  Of  THE 

the  means  of  a  coafting  trade,  almofl:  continual,  frovci 
the  north  of  France  to  the  farthelt  part  of  the  Me- 
diterranean. 

France  does  not  grow  all  the  corn  fhe  cor  fumes;* 
jfhe  is  obliged  to  get  it  from  the  north,  frorn  Sicily, 
and  the  coafls  of  Africa:  that  of  the  United  States 
ought  to  be  more  proper  for  her,  for  two  reafons: 
Firft,  it  miifl  be  cheaper,  being  the  produce  of  a 
cultivating  people.  Secondly,  the  people  have  more 
various  and  general  wants  of  frefli  provifions  than 
the  fouthern  countries  of  Europe.  The  American 
may  receive  v/ines,  fine  oils,  and  fruits  of  France, 
in  exchange  for  his  corn.  The  Neopolitan,  the 
Sicilian,  and  the  African,  cannoi  be  paid  in  the 
fame  manner. 

Finally,  'there  is  another  confideration  favourable 
to  the  importation  of  American  corn:  it  may  eafily 
arrive  at  Honfleur;f  there  it  may  be  ilored  up,  and 
xmdergo  all  theprocelTes  necciTary  to  its  prefervation; 
procefTes  which  are  become  very  fimple  and  little  ex- 
penlive.J     Thef'S  eftablifhments  would  keep  up  a 

confiderable 

*  This  is  a  fa£l,  thoagh  contrary  to  die  coir  ion  opinion. 
Anoihcr  fiift,  which  proves  the  z^eceflity  of  admitting  corn  at 
a  low  rate,  fuch  as  the  corn  of  America,  is,  that  three-fourths 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  province  of  Beauce,  which  produces 
fuch  fine  corn,  eat  black  bread  and  no  other,  and  of  which 
they  have  not  even  enough.  "What  muft  this  fcarcity  be  in 
other  provinces  where  no  corn  h  grown  ? 

-f-  I  quote  Honfleur,  becaufe  this  port,  from  various  clrcum- 
flar.cec,  ufelefs  to  mention  here,  is  deftined  by  nature  to  be- 
come the  depcHcory  of  a  great  commerce,  and  that  efpecially  of 
ihe  United  States  with  France.  The  projeft  of  making  it  a 
;ree  port  has  been  under  confideration  j  and  it  is  to  the  grcatefl  in- 
icreft  of  France  that  this  projedl  fhould  be  carried  into  execution. 

^  Thefeconfift  in  nothing  but  placing  magazines  in  the  open 
air,  opened  to  dry  winds,  and  conflrudted  in  fuch  a  manner  a» 
to  be  entirely  removed.  This  operation,  performed  once  a  fort- 
night, in  proper  weather,  needs  only  to  be  repeated  a  certain 
number  of  times  j  afrrr  which  the  corn  may  be  left  in  a  heap, 
without  fear  of  its  heating.     Experiments  of  this  kind  have 

been  carefully  (Piide*    'Xhi  method  9f  fircfeitipg  coia  ufcd  as 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


139 


I!      t'i 


' 


Gonfiderable  quantity  of  foreign  corn  within  the 
reach  of  the  capital,  a  greater  advantage  than  may  be 
imagined. 

There  are  ftill  other  motives  which  ought  to  en- 
gage the  French  to  encourage  the  importation  of  A~ 
merican  corn.  They  have  need  of  it  for  the  vatl 
magazines  which  the  land  and  fea  forces,  and  fre- 
quently fcarcity,  oblige  them  to  keep  llored. 

Wiiat  fliould  hinder  government  from  forming 
magazines  of  American  corn  in  the  French  fugar  if- 
lands,  which  tempefts,  conflagrations,  and  other 
unforefeen  accidents,  expofe  fo  frequently  to  famine, 
becaufe  contra6led  viftuallin«:  is  carried  on  bv  mo- 
nopolizers,  who  fend  but  little  in  order  to  fell  dear? 

SECTION  IV. 

Mafls^  Yardsj  mid  other  Timber  for  the  Navy, 

France,  like  other  European  dates  which  have  a 
royal  navy  and  fleets  of  merchant  fliips  to  keep  in 
repair,  imports  timber  from  Livonia  and  Rulfia. 
This  general  magazine  begins  to  be  exhaufted;  the 
quality  of  its  marts  is  not  fo  good  as  formerly.  This 
commerce  is,  moreover,  attended  with  the  difad- 
vantage  to  France  of  requiring  confiderable  remit- 
tances of  money,  without  reckoning  the  inconve- 
niencies  of  a  dangerous  navigation,  frequently  inter- 
rupted by  ice;  alfo  the  competition  of  feveral  na- 
tions, which  their  proximity  and  many  other  cir- 
cumftances  naturalize,  fo  to  fpeak,  in  the  ports  and 
feas  of  the  North;  advantages  which  the  French 
cannot  have. 

Thefe 

Geneva  may  be  quoted  :  The  government  has  ertablifhed  one  of 
itcgreateft  revenues  in  the  falc  of  ccrn  to  the  people,  and  ita 
interefthas,  confequcntly,  led  it  to  Improve  the  art  of  pi  '"-rv- 
ing  tliis  commodity.  Befides,  in  depufitories  deftineJ  wholly 
to  the  corn  dealers,  the  fame  corn  never  remains  long  enough 
to  render  its  prclcrvation  difficult.  There  isfome  rcdfon  to  be- 
lieve tluc  th?  fftiC  air  of  the  lea  is  favourable  for  It. 


I 


140  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

Thefe  confiderations  ought  to  determine  France 
to  turn  her  attention  to  the  United  States,  to  procure 
from  them  the  timber  necertary  for  her  navy,  and 
mafl:  timber  efpeciaily.  There  is  but  one  objection 
to  this,  and  it  arifes  from  prejudice.  It  is  pretend- 
ed in  France,  that  the  quality  of  American  timber 
is  very  much  inferior  to  that  of  the  Bahic.  Some 
people  go  fo  far  as  to  maintain  that  it  is  improper  for 
the  conftrudtion  of  veilels.  I  have  reafon  to  believe 
that  tnis  judgment  is  not  only  hafty, -but  dictated 
cither  by  ignorance,  or  the  partiality  of  perfons  in- 
terefted  in  the  Baltic  timber. 

It  is  not  in  the  laws  of  nature,  that  immenfe  coun- 
tries, whofe  afpe(5ts  are  as  varied  as  thofe  of  Europe 
can  be,  and  in  whofe  foil  there  are  the  fame  diverfi- 
ties,  fliould  produce  no  timber  but  of  a  quality  infe- 
rior to  that  of  the  timber  of  Europe. 

Better  directed  inquiries,  and  a  m.ore  attentive  ex- 
ammation,  will  foon  deflroy  this  prejudice  againll: 
the  quality  of  American  timber;  a  prejudice  fomuch 
the  more  difagreeable,  as  it  would  deprive  the  com- 
merce between  France  and  the  Unued  States  of  an 
article  important  to  the  two  nations. 

Ji  France  will  inform  herfelf  ferioufly  of  this  mat- 
ter, let  her  confult  even  the  enemies  of  America;  let 
her  confult  Lord  ShtfHeld,  fo  moderate  in  his  eulo- 
giums,  when  it  is  neceflliry  to  give  them  to  the  inde- 
pendent Americans,  His  Lordfliip  fays  expreflly, 
*'  that  the  negociators  of  the  treaty  of  peace,  who 
*'  have  ceded  the  territory  of  Penobfcot,  to  the  call: 
**  of  Cafco-bay,  belonging  to  Great-Britain,  deferve 
*'  the  fevereft  cenfure;  as  this  country  produces, 
"  withoutcontradiAion,  thebeihimber.  Thecoaft," 
adds  his  Lordfliip,  "  is  covered  with  timber  proper 
"  for  navigation  and  other  ufes,  and  in  quantities 
"  fuflicicnt  to  the  wants  of  Great-Britain  for  centu- 
"  ries  to  come.  The  white  pine,  known  in  England 
**  bv  the  name  of  the  Weymouth  Tine,  or  the  Pine 

*'  of 


I 


u 


thel 

bfCi 

pari 


t'NITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


H2 


"  of  New-Enghnd,  abounds  in  this  territory;  it  is 
**  inconteftably  the  bert  ior  mafts,  and  grows  there 
"  to  a  prodigious  height." 

This  is  confirmed  to  lis  by  men  who  have  travelled 
and  refided  in  the  United  States.  Thefe  men  affure 
us,  that  the  Sti.tes  produce  all  kinds  of  timber  of 
which  we  are  in  neecl,  and  that  tlie  white  pine  of  the 
Conne<fticut,  Penobfcot,  and  Kennebeck  rivers  is, 
at  leaft,  equal  in  quality  to  tiiat  of  the  north  of  Eu- 
rope. The  Ihip- builders  of  Philadelphia  efieem  it 
fo  much,  that  they  begin  to  make  ufe  of  it  for  fide 
planks  above  the  furface  of  the  water. 

Green  oak,  of  which  there  are  fuch  fine  forefts  in 
Georgia,  unites  the  mofi;  precious  qualities;  it  may 
be  procured  from  St.  Mary's,  of  a  more  confiderable 
icantling  than  that  which  comes  from,  the  Levant 
and  the  ifland  of  Corfica;  it  is  compact,  the  worms 
never  attack  it,  and  its  duration  is  unequalled.  The 
green  oak  of  Carolina  is  the  hardefl  timber  known  ; 
— the  vtlTcls  built  with  it  are  of  a  very  long  duration. 

SECTION  V. 

Sh'f:s  and  Furs, 

In  this  trade  Lord  Sheffield  looks  upon  the  United 
Stales  as  dangerous  rivals  to  Canada;  and  it  is  not 
without  reafon  tliat  his  Lordftiip  is  of  this  opinion. 

The  proximity  of  the  great  eitablifhments  which 
the  independent  Americans  form  at  prefent  at  PtfJ- 
burgh,  and  in  many  other  places  of  their  pofTeflions 
bcvond  the  mountains,  muft  infenfibly  give  them 
great  advantages  in  this  commerce,  and  make  them 
partake  with  Ca'nada  a  large  fliare  of  the  profits. 

In  fa(5t,  the  regions  fituated  between  the  waters  of 
the  lake  Ontario,  and  thofe  of  the  Miiliffippi,  inter- 
fered by  ttic  numerous  rivers  which  fall  into  the 
South  and  North- Weft  of  lakErie^  of  the  Michigan, 

aud 


■  'VM 


«       ( 


1:^.1  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

an(i  of  the  Superior,  as  far  as  the  Ouifconf.ng^'^  and 
even  to  \.\\t  lac  des  bois ;  the  great  uiulertaking^  in 
which  the  Virginians  are  at  prefent  employed,  to 
improve  the  navigation  of  the  Potoivmack^Xo  the  foot 
of  the  Allegheny;  the  probnbilrty  of  another  com- 
munication with  the  ultramontane  waters,  by  menn^ 
of  the  weflern  branches  o^iht  Sufqu  tha7i7!  ah;  without 
omitting  the  facility  with  which  the  inhabitants  of 
the  (late  of  Nev/-York  v/ent  to  Is^iagara  before  th.e 
war,  in  going  up  the  Hudfon's  river  from  their  ca- 
pital to  Albany,  beyond  that  of  the  Mohawks,  crof- 
iing  the  little  lake  of  Oneida,  and  by  menus  of  an 
cafy  carriage  going  down  the  river  of  O/weoo^  in  the 
mouth  of  which  the  Ontario  forms  an  excellent  har- 
bour; all  t-hefe  reafons,  and  many  others  which  re- 
late not  only  to  geocvgphy,  but  to  climate,  proximi- 
ty, &c.  mufl  in  a  (cw  years  pur  the  Americans  in, 
pofleliion  of  the  greatelt  part  of  the  fur  trade.  ' 

Thefe  advantages  will  be  (till  more  certain,  when 
the  Englifli  fliall  have  evacuated  the  forts  of  Niagara!,  t 
the  great  eftablifhment  of  the  flreight,|  and  that  of 
the  Michillimakinack.§ 

The  annual  fales  in  London  of  furs  from  Cannua, 
produced  in  17S2,  four  millions  fev--'  hundred  thou- 
iand  livres  tournois,  fomc  *;hing  more  ;t  1783,  and  in 
1784  they  amounted  to  upwards  of  iive  millions.  All 
thefe  furs  are  paid  for  with  Englifli  manufuftnres, 
:ind  the  fourth  part  is  prepared  in  England,  by  which 

their 


^ 


*  A  great  river  'vhich  falls  Into  the  P»iifiiflippi,at  fcven  hu.i- 
dred  leagues  fiom  the  lea. 

•f  A  very  impo:tant  one,  which  cornmanfls  the  fpace  of  the 
thirteen  leagues  which  fcparatcs  thelcikes  Erie  ami  Ontario. 

t  A  city  founded  by  the  French,  en  theh'^igh':  of  Jit.  Claire, 
wH;ch  car.i'  s  the  waters  of  the  lakes  Micliigan  and  Huron  into 
the  Erie, 

^  A  '^rt  and  eAabl'fhn"  nt  at  thf  point,  in  tlic  ifinnd  nf  (his 
r.iaiCj,  vviiich  c(.mmar.ds  'he  poiTagc  of  the  falls  of  St,  Mary, 
Ui.'Oujrh  which  the  waters  of  the  upper  lake  fall  into  tliofc  oi 
tic  Huron- 


d 

n 
k) 
bt 
p- 

fur 

lof 
Jhe 

)f- 
.11 

the 
ar- 
re- 
r,i- 
\n 


th« 


TTNITLD  STATES   OF   AMERICA.  I43 

their  value  is  doubled.  Nt).v',  t)iis  ricli  commerce, 
carried  on  by  way  of  Qneber,  vviil  certainly  fall  as 
foon  as  the  forts  and  the  countries  which  they  eoni- 
iTsand  fhall  be  reftored  to  the  Americans.  Ir  is  from 
this  confideration  that  the  reltitution  of  thefe  foris  is 
withheld,  to  the  period  of  which  the  English  look 
forwai'd  with  pain. 

SECTION  VI. 
Rrce^   Indigo^   Flax-ft:ed. 

It  is  not  poflible  to  fpeak  of  American  rice  with- 
out thinkingof  the  pernicious  inconveniencies  which 
Its  cultivation  produces.  Tiie  wretched  flaves  who 
cultivate  it,  obliged  to  be  half  the  year  in  water,  are 
cxpofed  to  fcrophulous  diforders  and  a  premature 
death.  It  is  faid,  that  this  confideration  prevents 
the  dates  wherein  rice  is  produced,  from  aboliihing; 
flavert.  Free  men  would  not  devote  themfelves 
willingly  to  this  deilruftive  labour.* 

Were  this  even  true,  and  that  in  the  fvftem  of  li- 
berty  means  could  not  be  found  to  reconcile  tliis  cul- 
ture to  tlie  health  of  the  labourers,  a  fufficlent  mo- 
tive could  not  be  drawn  fiom  it  to  condemn  to  death, 
or  to  cruel  difeafes,  a  part  of  our  ftllovv  creatures, 
born  free,  equal  us,f  and  with  an  e^ual  right  to  live. 

Were 

'^  Rice  is  cultivated  in  Piedmont  and  in  Italy,  by  people  who 
have  no  habitations,  and  are  kn<jwii  by  the  name  of  Banditti, 
the  fruit  of  the  bad  political  conftitutiops  of  that  part  of  Europe. 
When  thcfc  Banditti  have  finifhed  their  work,  tre  Sbirrescin- 
du£t  them  to  the  frontiers,  for  tear  of  the  diforders  to  which 
their  Inadlion  and  tnifnry  might  incline  them. 

\-  They  are  of  a^iffercnt  colour  from  that  of  the  Europeans  ; 
but  does  the  quality  of  man  depend  on  colour?  Are  not  t'le  r ->- 
gvoc«  organised  as  we  are?  Have  not  they  like  us,  every  th  ig 
which  belongs  to  the  produftion  of  the  fpecies,  to  the  formation 
of  iden.s,  and  to  their  dcvelopement  ?  If  their  blacic  colour  ought 
to  have  any  moial  effedV,  to  have  any  influence  over  their  fate, 
or  to  determine  our  conduft  towards  them,  it  /hould  be  that  of 
inducing  us  to  leave  then  where  they  arc,  and  not  to  force  them 


'    Si 


144 


^ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


Were  the  culture  of  this  commodity  even  abfohUely 
neceHIiry,  this  neceflity  would  give  us  no  right  over 
the  lives  of  negroes;  or  it  would  be  the  etfcit  of  a 
flate  of  war;  tor  fervitiide  was  never  a  right. 

There  is  a  fpecies  of  dry  rice  no  way  dangerous  to 
cultivate.  Moreover,  the  example  of  the  Chinefe  and 
the  Indians,  among  wiiom  the  cukure  of  rice  makes 
not  fuch  ravag,es,  ought  to  make  us  hope,  that  in 
Imitating  them  hfe  and  health  would  be  reflored  to 
men  of  which  we  have  never  had  a  right  to  deprive 
them." 

After  having  confidered  this  produtfrion  as  a  man 
•fliould  confider  it,  1  rauft  now  confider  it  as  a  mer- 
chant ought  to  do. 

The  Prench  government  has  not  yet  taken  a  de- 
termined refohuion  relative  to  the  introduftion  of 
American  rice.  It  is  a  wholefome  and  fimpie  arti- 
cle of  fnbrifl:cnce,  proper  to  iiipplythe  place  of  prin- 
cipal commooities.  it  cannot  be  too  often  repeated, 
thai;  the  niuiriplicatioii  of  articles  of  fubfiftencc  ought 
to  be  encourage  );  it  would  render  Ihe  lefs  painful 
to  the  people,  increafe  population,  and  confequently 
natural  riches. 

If  France  wIlTies  to  have  a  great  and  folid  com- 
merce with  the  United  States,  Ihe  ought  to  admit  all 
the  produ(ftions  of  the  U«ited  States. 

The 

«way  from  their  cou~ try;  not  to  puni/h  them  by  the  mod  bar- 
barous treatment  ;>n  account  of  their  colour ;  not  to  drag  thejn 
into  a  foreign  tMJ'J,  in  condemn  tbern  ther«  fo  the  vile  and 
painful  lif.  of  unini'TM  Do  they  corns  and  offer  themfelves  vo- 
luntarily a)  il;v-e?  D";  they  aflc  to  leave  thole  torrid  ?ones, 
wherein  n.'t'iv.-:  'kcirr^  to  .•:  ve  circumfcribtd  them  by  their  co- 
Jour,  aslht  hab  ^«>  vr  by  us  n  more  temperate  ones  by  our  whitr* 
complexions:'  Th-i'  vants,  being  few,  keep  them  in  ignorance; 
v/t  ad.!  every  thing  pable  if  cnanging  it  into  imbecility,  and 
we  argu^  r-pon  this  .gradation,  of  which  we  are  the  culpable 
authors  co  tranquil  »e  ourfelves  on  the  jiift  reproachc*  which 
rature  rakes  us !  Q«a  wc  boaft  therifrre  nf  our  knowledge,  as 
long  "i  it  remiinstr  ace  »mpli;:f  in  tbefe  i<.  rrors  ?  See  on  this 
fubjed; '  re^iaraen  critit^ue  drt  Voyager)*  de  M*  de  Chailelux. 


rTCITKD  STATES  OP  AMES.TfA.  14^ 

The  Americans  exported  annually,  diinnjT  the 
vears  176S,  17^9,  and  1770,  to  Great-Britain  and 
rhe  fouth  ot  Europe,  a  hundred  and  fiiteen  thoufand 
barrels  uf  rice,  worth  fix  miUions  and  a  half  of  livres 
tournois.'^"  It  Is  the  mod  confiderahle  article  of  ex- 
portation after  tobacco,  wheat,  and  flour.  It  de- 
i'w-rvet.  therefore  that  France  fliouid  think  of  it  for  her 
commerce,  and  endeavour  to  bring  it  into  her  ports, 
to  be  diftributed  there  toother  European  markets, 

•Lid'igo. 

The  fame  thini;  may  be  faid  of  the  indigo  of  t!:r 
Carolinas  and  Georgia;  it  makes  a  part  of  the  im- 
portant produftions  of  thi.  United  States,  and  is  con- 
fumed  in  Europe; — it  is  therefore  neceiTary  to  open 
for  its  reception  all  the  French  ports,  and  afterwards 
to  give  it  eafy  communications.  The  EngliOi  re- 
ceived of  it  annually,  during  the  years  1760,  1769, 
and  1770,  to  the  amount  of  three  millions  of  livres 
rournois.f  It  was  principally  coniiimed  in  England, 
.Ireland,  and  the  north  of  E\n*ope,  by  reafon  of  its  low 
price.  The  indigo  of  St.  Domingo  is  much  dearer. 
The  Indigo  of  Carolina  and  Georgia  has  acquired 
a  much  better  quality  (iacc  the  tirfl  quantities  of  it 
arrived  in  England;  but  I  have  not  learned  that  it 
is  to  be  compared  v/itli  the  indigo  of  Domingo.  Tra- 
vellers fay,  that  Carolina  produces  indigo  almoll  as 
good  as  that  of  the  French  iflands. 

There  are  kinds  of  dying  to  which  low  priced  in- 
digo is  proper;  and^  for  this  reafoii,  cerinin  dvers 
life  that  of  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia.  In  thefe  cafes 
it  will  always  have  the  prtfereure.  Therefore  Ame- 
rican ind!2;o  fliould  be  admitted  as  Ion?  as  there  is  a 
conlumption  for  it,  for  die  Americans  will  continue 

O  to 


*  Til?  exportation  fr^m  Churltfton,  fr^m  Dcccaibcr  175^4, 
to  Decembe;  1785,  umouniPu  i  >  67  7  1  ■?  binds. 

-f  Thf  exportation  of  dye-iluff,  made  m  1785,  from  Charlef- 
ton,  anaountcd  to  500^910  poiaud  weight. 


146  OK   THE   COMMERCE   OF   THE 

to  cultivalcit;  and  fince  this  cultivation  cannot  l>c 
prevented,  tlie  moil  advantageous  thitig  is  to  ftiive 
to  become  agents  in  tiie  general  commerce  of  Ame- 
rica. 

Flax-SecJ. 

North-America  Tent  to  England  and  Ireland,  dur- 
ing the  years  1768,  1769,  and  1770,  flax-feed  to  the 
amountof  two  millions  anda  halt  of  livrcs  tournois ; 
it  IS  all  confumed  in  Great-Britain,  The  advan- 
tage of  paying  for  this  {ccd  with  Irifli  linens,  gave  it 
the  preference  to  that  of  Flanders  and  the  Baltic. 
Flax-feed  from  thefe  countries  is,  moreover,  \^vy 
dear. 

It  is  the  bnfinefs  of  thofe  French  merclunts,  who 
■may  be  interefted  in  the  commerce  with  the  United 
States,  to  confider  what  advantages  they  may  derive 
from  this  commerce.  If  the  culture  of  flax  becomes 
cxtenlive  in  France,  foreign  feed  ought  to  be  pre- 
ferred for  two  reafons: — the  quality  of  the  produc- 
tion is  improved  by  it,  and  there  is  more  advantage 
in  fpinning  flax  in  peopled  and  induftricus  countries, 
than  in  letring  it  ripen  to  gather  i'tfA,  It  appears, 
that  flax-iV^!d  comes  not  in  abundance,  but  fron\ 
coimtries  where  there  are  not  hands  fufficient  to  fpin, 
orgivefhe  flrfl:  preparation,  even  to  the  flax  they 
produce  :  it  is  then  proper  to  cultivate  it  for  its  feed, 
which  becomes  a  confiderable  article  of  commerce: 
as  long  as  this  ftate  of  things  fubfifts,  it  muit  alfo  be 
proper  for  peopled  countries  to  get  flax-feed  from 
abroad. 

Flanders  feems  to  be  an  exception  ;  but  the  expor- 
tation of  flax  is  there  prohibited,  for  the  purpofe  of 
encouraging  fpinning,  ^c.  in  this  cafe  Flanders,  be- 
incra  country  very  projier  for  the  cultivation  of  flax, 
may  leave  to  many  cultivators  of  this  plant  no  other 
refource  than  the  commerce  of  the  U^d.  Jt  is  pro- 
bable, that  if  tiie  flax  could  be  fent  from  Flanders, 

after 


IJNITEI)  STATES  OF   AMERICA.  14^ 

after  the   firll:    preparation   for   fpiuning,    nobody 
would  think  of  gathering  the  feed. 

SECTION  VII. 

Niival  Siorcjy  Juch  as  Pitchy  I ai\,  and  Turpcntitie. 

Before  the  einajicipatlon  of  America,  England  rc- 
>>  ived  coiilid^rabie  fupptics  of  ihci'e  articleii  trom 
aiiierica,  particularly  iroin  Carolina  and  the  South. 
'I'he  quantities  of  thefe  articles  amounted  annually, 
during;;  rhe  ycar^3  176S,  I76(^,  and  1770,  to  tvventy- 
feven  thoufand  ^tvcw  hundred  barrels  of  {:it.ch  ;  eigh- 
ty-two thoufand  four  hundred  barr°!:s  of  t;-;-;  and 
tvventv-eif^ht  thoufand  one  hundred  of  turi^entine: 
the  whole  amounting,  in  rhe  port  of  exportation,  to 
one  million  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight  thoufand 
Hvrcj  tournois. 

Thefe  ftores  were  very  valuable  to  the  Engllfli,  as 
well  for  their  commerce  as  for  their  proper  confump- 
tion.  Two  confiderable  manufacture's,  eitabliflied 
.It  Hull,  were  fuj)portcd  by  them;  tar  was  there 
converted  into  pitch,  confiderable  quantities  of  it 
were  ex{>orted  to  the  fouth,  where  it  was  received 
in  competition  with  that  from  the  north  of  Europe. 
Turpentine,  converted  in  thefe  manufa6tuies  into 
oil  or  f[)iriL,  furniflied  a  confiderable  obje6t  of  com- 
merce. England  confumes  a  great  deal  of  it  in  the 
preparation  of  colours,  varniflies,  &c. 

The  American  revolution  has  not  made  the  Eni{, 
lifli  lofe  fight  of  thefe  Itorcs :  the  want  they  have  of 
them  makes  it  imprudent  to  truff  wholly  to  the  ex- 
portation of  thefe  articles  from  Ruflia  and  Sweden, 
where  the  Englidi  have  the  Dutch  for  competitors. 
Moreover,  the  navigation  of  America,  lefs  dangerous 
tli:tn  that  of  the  Baltic,  is  not,  like  the  laft,  limited 
to  a  certain  time  of  the  year;  it  is  confequently  n;ore 
frequent  and  lefs  expeniivc;  fo  that  thefe  ilores  will 
come  toy  a  long  time  from  America  at  a  lower  })rice 

O  2  ilian 


14-8  ON  THE  COMMKRCE  OF  TIFE 

th  n  from  the  north.  American  tar  is  as  good'ai 
tiicji  ut  Kuroj)e,  thicker  and  more  proper  for  making 
pitch;  it  is  jircfcrred  for  fliccj),  even  at  a  higher 
j>rice.  AnuTican  turpentine  is  inferior  to  none  but 
that  of  France. 

An  En^lilh  merchant  has  tanght  the  Rufllans  how 
to  hirnifti  as  good  *nrpentine  is  that  from  any  other 
nation:  this  produiftion  will  b^  in  great  abundance 
there,  by  the  numerous  and  immenfe  forefts  of  firs  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Archangel,  where  their  cropo 
ure  depofited. 

The  ftate  of  things  Ihews  to  France  what  value  file 
ought  to  attach  to  tiie  naval  flores  whicii  may  be  fur- 
niihed  from  America.  The  quantities  of  them  ex- 
ported from  Charlellon  become  more  and  more 
confiderable.*  The  fandy  foil  near  tiie  Tea,  in  North 
Carolina  and  the  fouth  of  Virginia,  produces  a  great 
quantity  of  firs^  from,  which  tar  and  turpcntiric  are 
extraftcd;  this  is  done  without  much  trouble,  and 
■  he  facility  of  ielling  and  preparing  the  trees  is  a  great 
encouragement. 


SECTION  vin. 

Timber  and  Wcoa.  f^>y  Car f  enters  and  Coopers  toorJc ;  fuch 
as  Slaves  J  Cojk-heads^  Pla?iks ,  Beards^  ^c, 

France,  as  well  as  England,  ought  to  be,  for  t!)cu* 
own  interffts,  engaged  to  favour  the  importation  of 
thcfe  articles,  of  which  the  United  States  can  furnidi 
fuch  gr^'at  cuiantities. 

Timber 


n 


♦  In  17?^,—- 7c.).i  'oanel's  of  pitch,  tar,  an.i  turpentine,  were 
rxpnrted  fwm  Cliarlrllon.  In  1783, — 14697  barielf.  I  kno.v 
.>u,tb"W  many  bai;-.".]-.  ihf  cxpi;rt.i.ioii  of  r;^'4  amounccd  to ; 
but  that  of  J785  coiififtcJ  of  i';,coo.  Tht-  lame  increife  i? 
cbferved  in  o'.her  articles.  The  moil  confiderable  is  iice,  :if- 
terwards  inuijjo  J— the  othf^r  attlvles  ere,  tobacco,  cfer-ftcin-, 
timb'r,  wheat,  butter,  wax,  ard  leather.  This  cxpoftatipa 
aai'jjiirs  to  .neiu-.four  hun•^r;•^i  ■  r-whi-ii  rcnnds  ftcrling. 


I!<, 


VNITED   ST.\TES  OF   AMERICA. 


149 


as 

her 

)Ut 

low 
her 

In  «e 
Is  in 

[opo 


Timber  fails  in  France,  and  \vi;l  bt'coine  more 
and  more  (Varct;  popubtion  dtfl/oys  it: — \  ft  tm- 
ber  niult  be  found  for  houft..-,,  mills,  6cc. — ho;^llie.ids 
muft  be  made  for  Aigurb;  calks  and  barrels  for  wine, 
brandv,  6ic.  Tliele  articles  of  timber  are  priuci[\'dl/ 
furniliied  from  the  North  to  the  ports  of  France — 
but  they  become  dear,  their  quality  dlminilliebvand 
the  Americans  have  the  advantage  in  the  carriage  * 

The  value  of  thelc  articles,  exported  from  Ameri- 
ca to  Great-Britain  only,  amounted  to  two  mi'lianv 
of  livrcs  tournois  in  the  year  1770,  according  to  a 
ftatt.:"ienr  drawn  up  in  the  Ciillom-Houie  of  Bollon- 
The  general  exportaiions  to  the  Englifi;,  French^ 
American,  and  Spanilli  illands,  and  to  tlie  difi'crent 
parts  of  Europe,  are  innnenfc  and  become  daily  more 
confiderable.  Were  not  tliis  timber  of  a  gootl  (jua- 
lity,  the  increafe  of  this  commerce  would  not  be  fo 
rapid.  The  French  have  in  this  refpe<!^  fome  preju- 
dices, which  it  23  of  im(>ortance  to  dedroy.  If  the 
American  flaves  are  efleemed  in  making  rum  calkt.,- 
&c.  they  will  undoubtedly  preferve  our  brandies. 

*  It  is  ncc-'fTary  to  give  .">ur  readers  an  idea  of  the  prce  of 
fome  of  thefe  articles :  an  American  very  converfunt  in  theiil 
has  (•'urniflicd  us  with  the  nccefrary  particular'. 

White  oak  planks,  of  two  inchei  and  a  half  thick,  fiwed  by 
the  hand,  were  fold  in  1785,  at  fifteen  piaiU'*s,  or  two  hun- 
died  and  fixty  livres  ten  fols  tournois,  tlie  thoufand  feet. 

Ordinary  planks  of  fine  white  pine,  an  inck  thich,  fourteen 
or  fifteen  feet  long,  and  from  a  foot  to  foirteen  inches  wide, 
were  fold  at  the  fame  time  at  feven  piaftres,  or  thirty-fcvii 
livres  tournois,  the  thoulund  feel.— Thofe  of  a  double  thick- 
nefs,  double  the  price. 

Planks,  (rom  two  to  five  inches  thick,  and  from  fi^'reen  to 
fixty  feet  long,  at  twenty-one  pounds  New-Yorl<  money,  or 
two  hundred  and  fevcnty- three  livres  tournois,  the  thoufand 
feet,— The  fame  perfon  faid  he  had  fcen  curbs  or  L)^i.t  timber, 
at  ten  fliillings  New-York  money  a  ton,  the  exptnce  of  cutting,. 
Ii«»  nut  included. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MStO 

(716)  873-4S03 


'^ 


9>^ 


i^O  ON  THE  COMMERCE  Of  THB 

SECTION  IX. 

Vejfeh  conjiru^cd  in  America^  to  hejohl  or  freighted. 

It  has  been  oblerved  that  the  bulk  of  the  commo* 
dities  which  might  be  exchanged  by  the  commerce 
bet\tcen  Fiance  and  the  United  Str.ces,  was,  at  an 
equal  vaUie,  much  more  confiderable  on  the  fide  of 
America  than  that  of  France.  There  refuhs  irom 
this,  that  in  thefe  exchanges,  a  great  number  of  Ame- 
rican vellels  muil:  be  l\ibje6l  to  return  to  America  in 
ballalh  This  ftate  of  things  would  certainly  be  pre- 
judicial to  the  commerce  between  the  two  nations, 
if  fome  compenfation  could  not  be  cftabliflied 
which  Ihould  remove  the  inequality. 

This  compenfation  may  be  made  in  a  very  advan- 
tageous manner  to  both.  The  independent  Ameri- 
cans conftrutfl  veflels  for  fale:  if  it  be  agreeable  to  a 
nation  to  purchafe  of  another  the  articles  which  this 
manufaftures  at  a  lefs  expence,  and  with  more  means, 
it  follows,  that  the  French  ought  to  buy  American 
velTels ;  and,  in  fa<?i,  this  commerce  begins  to  be 
tilabliflied. 

Lord  Sheffield  reprobates  this  commerce  with  re- 
fpeft  to  his  own  country. — "  Its,  cxiftence,"  fays 
his  Lordfhip,  *' depends  on  its  navy ;  this  depends 
••  as  much  on  Englifh  fliip-builders  as  on  Englifh 
**  failors;  therefore,  of  all  trades,  that  of  fliip-build-i 
*'  ing  is  the  moft  important  to  be  preferved  in  Great- 
*'  Britain."  The  advances,  according  to  his  Lord- 
fhip, are  of  little  confeqiience,  and  thefe  veflels  not 
being  deftined  to  be  fold  to  foreigners,  what  they  cofr 
ought  to  be  confidered  fo  much  the  lefs,  as  the  ex- 
pence  is  incurred  in  the  country. 

Lord  Sheffield  prefumes  alfo,  that  fhip-bullding 
will  be  encouraged  in  New-Scotland,  Canada,  the 
IflandofSt.  John,  &c.  Finally,  his Lordfliip  declares, 
*'  that  the  encouragement  of  fliip-building  in  the 

*^  United 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 


I  CI 


**  United  States  is  rinnous  to  Great-Britain;  that  it 
"  is  the  fame  to  thofe  who  may  purchafe  American 
"  built  velFcls;  becaufe,  notwithftanding  their  cheap- 
*'  iieis,  thefe  veflcls  are  little  durable,  from  the  na- 
*'  ture  of  their  materials."  This  obfervation  relates 
particularly  to  veflels  built  forfale,  which,  his  Lc-d- 
fhip  fays,  "  are  very  inferior  to  thofe  which  are  be- 
*'  fpoken." 

It  cannot  be  denied,  that  it  is  of  confquence  to  a 
nation  which  attaches  a  great  importance  to  its  navy, 
to  have  fliip-builders.  The  repairs,  &c.  of  which 
vciTels  are  conftantly  in  want,  would  be  badly  di- 
rected, if  there  were  not,  in  the  clafs  of  workmen 
to  whom  this  induftry  belongs,  men  capable  of 
conftruftiiigavellel,and  habituated  to  this  conftruc- 
tion.  What  is  ftill  more,  as  foon  as  a  nation  has  a 
navy,  it  is  greatly  to  its  intereft  to  poflefs  every 
means  of  improving  it;  and  the  pofleflion  of  thefe 
means  is  fo  much  more  fecure  when  there  are  eita- 
blifhments  in  the  country  which,  in  this  cafe,  fup- 
port  emulation,  by  the  conftant  exercife  of  the  art. 

But  it  does  not  follow,  that  to  preferve  fuch  an 
advantage,  a  nation  ought  to  have  no  other  veflels 
than  thofe  which  are  home  built:  it  is  here  neceflary 
to  diftinguifti  (hips  belonging  to  the  royal  navy  from 
merchant  flvips.  The  firft  are  alone  fufficient  to 
employ  a  requifite  number  of  able  builders,  and  to 
fupply  every  thing  which  the  eonftru6tion  and  re- 
pairsof  veffels  require.  BAit  merchant lliips,  of  which 
a  confiderable  number  is  wanted,  may  ht  procured 
from  abroad,  if  thofe  of  an  eqnal  quality  can  be  had 
at  a  price  confiderably  lefs. 

Will  it  be  faid,  that  a  nation  becomes  fo  much 
the  more  powerful  at  fea,  as  the  conftru6lion  of  vef- 
fels is  encouraged  in  her  ports?  that  under  this  point 
of  view  it  is  neceflary  to  be  cautious  not  to  furnifli  the 
independent  Americans  with  the  means  of  forming  a 

navy, 


1 


r^2  ON  THli  COMMERCE  Of  Tftfl 

navy,  which  would  render  them  formidable?  that  If 
is  at  leaft  iinneceflary  to  liaften  thcfe  means? 

It  this  confideration  were  true,  it  would  in  Ibirr 
nieafure  impofe  on  France  a  law  to  encourage  thi 
United  States  to  form  their  navy;  for,  however  for- 
Hjidable  her  own  may  be,  flic  has  too  many  natural 
obftacles  to  remove  for  her  navy  to  be  the  effed  of 
any  thing  but  painful  efforts,  and  confequently  that 
it  Ihould  be  an  eflabliflimeat  very  diificult  to  main* 
tain, — very  expenfive,  and  fubje^t  to  long  intermit- 
lions.  And  iince  it  is  necefliiry  to  fpeak  conftantiy 
of  a  threatening  rivality, — of  an  armed  rivality, — 
France  has  the  grcateft  interelt,  to  balance  more  fure- 
Jy  the  force  of  her  rivals,  by  calling  to  her  aid  ths 
naval  force  of  a  friendly  people, — of  a  pcoj)le  to 
whom  nature  has  been  prodigal  in  the  means  flie  has 
given  them  of  having  a  confiderable  one. 

But  the  policy  which  refufed  to  purchafe  Ameri- 
can veflels,  for  fear  the  Americans  fliouid  become 
formidable  at  fea,  would  be  Dadly  founded.  A  fure 
manner  of  retarding  the  eltabliflmicnt  of  a  navy,  by 
a  nation  which  pofleflTesthe  means  and  materials;  the 
power  and  a6tivity  which  fuch  a  great  eftabliftiment 
requires,  is  to  employ  it  continually  in  the  conftruc- 
tion  of  vefTels  for  fale,  and  to  habituate  it  to  this  kind 
of  commerce.  If  this  nation,  and  fuch  is  the  poii- 
tion  of  the  United  States,  has  nothing  to  fear  inte- 
riorly from  any  other  power,  it  will  certainly  dcfpife 
all  fuch  military  preparations,  whofe  profit  and  utility 
will  not  be  fo  immediately  perceived,  as  the  frequent 
gains  of  peaceful  commerce.  Therefore,  let  the  inde- 
pendent Americans  be  perfuaded  to  build  vcfltls  for 
rale:-  let  them  not  be  provoked  to  build  fliips  for  dt- 
fenfive  and  ofFenfive  operations,  and  they  will  neg- 
le£l  the  great  means  with  which  nature  has  furniflicd 
them,  of  having  a  refpe^lable  navy :  they  will  even 
negleft  them,  when  greater  riches,  and  a  more  con- 

liderable. 


fi 


\i 


^ 


XJHITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  f^J 

filterable  populatiors,  fliall  facilitate  to  them  the  ufe 
of  their  natural  means. 

Far  from  fufFering  by  this  new  arrano;ement  of 
things,  France  would  gain  thereby.  This  idea  will 
inidoubtedly  a|)j^ear  extraordinary,  becaufe,  in  a* 
bandoning  workmanfliip  to  American  {hip-builders, 
France  is  deprived  of  it  :  but  how  eafily  may  fl)C 
compenfate  this  apparent  lofs  1  Jn  facft,  when  no- 
thing is  to  be  had  without  labour,  it  is  then  eonfi- 
dered  as  real  riches :  therefore,  it  ougHV  to  be  em- 
ployed with  a  prudent  economy,  efpecially  in  tlie 
fyftem  of  national  rivalities.  The  workmen  who 
will  not  build  vefiels,  will  make  cloth,  with  which 
veflels  may  be  paid  for.  The  expence  of  manufac- 
turing thefe  cloths  will  be  paid  at  home,  as  that  for 
the  conltruftion  of  veirds  would  have  been ;  by 
which  means  thefe  will  be  had  at  a  cheaper  rate. 
This  labour  and  expence  will  therefore  produce 
greater  advantages,  and  place  the  nation  in  a  more. 
defirable  relation  with  its  rivals. 

Finally,  Lord  Sheffield,  whofe  narrow  policy  is 
here  refuted,  propofes  that  (liip-building  (hould  be 
encouraged  in  Canada,  New-Scotland,  &c.  But  do 
phyfical  circumllances  favour  thefe  countries  as 
much  as  the  United  States?  Car.  England  reap  real 
advantages  from  this  encouragement ?  It  is  a  quef- 
tion  with  which  feveral  writers  have  combated  Lord 
Sheffield,  and  on  which  I  cannot  decide. 

But  if  Enghnii  hai  this  refource,  France  would 
be  without  it.  Velfels  built  in  America  will  always 
cod  her  iefs  than  her  own,  or  thofeconftruded  tlfe- 
where:  (lie  ought  therefore  to  favour  the  introduc* 
tion  of  the  firft. 

A  celebrated  minifter,  whom  France  has  reafoii 
to  regret,  thought  ai>  follows ;  his  defign  was  to  get 
a  part  of  the  veflels  of  the  French  navy  conftru6led 
in  Sweden;  he  tliereby  expe(5ted  to  make  great  f.w- 

iug^s  t 


1 

t 

ill 


'i 


<l  * 


154  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

iiigs :  they  will  be  greater  and  urore  real,  in  gettiu-^ 
the  vedels  conftrudeci  in  the  United  States. 

The  Jangliih  thenifclves  will  not  be  abie  to  refift 
the  force  of  things;  tliey  will  I'ooner  or  latter  return 
to  the  uic  of  American  vdfels ;  for  tiiefe  coft  bur  a 
third*  of  what  Knglifli  veflels  are  built  forj  and  tlit: 
cheapnels  is  the  firil  law  of  commerce. 

The  bad  quality  attributed  to  American  veilels  J3 
a  fable,  ariiing  from  the  following  circumftances:  in 
die  contentfbn  for  indspendence,  the  Americans 
built  vedels  in  halle,  to  arm  them  as  cruifers :  they 
were  forced  to  make  ufe  of  wood  which  was  green, 
and  unprepared;  other  things  were  either  wanting 
to  thefc  velfels,  or  precipit;itely  prepared.  Confe- 
quently  the  veflels  were  infiperfeifl ;  tfut  this  im[)er- 
fcc^ion  was  but  accidental.  A  cruife  is  a  lottery, 
wherein  no  notice  is  taken  of  the  goodnefs  and  dura- 
bility of  the  velfel.  It  is  fufticient  that  it  be  a  good 
failcr,  this  is  the  eflential  quality. 

Peace  has  re-eftabliflied  the  conflrudion  of  veiT^^ls 
in  the  manner  it  ought  to  be;  and  there  are  American 
vefieh  built  before  the  war,  and  fome  thirty  years  ago, 
which  for  goodnefs  and  duration  are  not  inferior  to 
any  En^^lifh  veflel. 

J'lore  prourefs  has  been  made  in  America  than  any 
where  elfe  in  the  art  of  fliip-building;  this  is  cafily 
explained : — it  mult  not  be  forgotten,  when  the  inde- 
pendent Americans  are  fpoken  of,  that  they  are  not 
recovering  fJrom  a  flate  of  barbarity.  They  are  men 
efcaped  from  European  civilization,  employed,  lb  to 
fpeak,  in  creating  their  country  and  refources:  no 
(hackles  reftrain  their  efforts,  every  thinain  Europe 
is  looked  uptTn  as  perfe61',  and  made  ufjrof,  without 
thinking  of  improving  it.  Thefe  twio  efTentlal  dif- 
ferences 

*  In  New-England  the  conftruftors  of  veiiels  make  their  bar- 
gains at  the  rate  of  three  pounds  fterling/ per  ton,  carpenter's 
work  included.  On  tht^  Thames  the  p^nce  U  nine  pounci  ftct- 
lang  for  tlit  wotk  alunt  yf  the  carpenter. 


•ol 


C( 

t! 


c 


UNITED  STATKS  OF  AMERICA. 


.•»5 


terences  caufe  a  very  confiderable  one  in  the  intenfity 
of  indiiftrv. 

Bc){h)n  has  produced  a  man  afloniihino;  in  the  art 
of  fhip-building.  Long  and  clofely  emf)ioyed  in  the 
foarch  ot  means  to  nnite  fwiftnefj  of  failing  in  vcUels 
to  their  folidity,  Mr.  Peck  has  hail  the  grenft-ft  fuc- 
cefs.  Jt.  vvrs  his  hand  which  jM'oduced  the  liehfarius, 
the  Hazard,  and  theRattlefnake,  which  were  fo  par- 
ticularly diftingiiiflied  during  the  late  war  by  their 
fwiftnefs  of  failing.  VeOels  conftrurted  by  this  able 
builder  have  qualities  which  others  hav^  not;  they 
carry  a  fourth  more,  and  fail  faftcr.  Thefe  fa(5ls  are 
authenticated  by  a  number  of  experiments. 

The  Englifli  themfelves  acknowledge  the  fupe- 
riority  of  American  fhip-building :  **  The  fined  vef- 
"  fels,"  fays  Colonel  Champion,  "  are  built  at  Phila- 
*'  delphia;  the  art  of  ftiip-building  has  attained  ia 
*"  that  city  the  highell  degree  of  prefe(5lion.  Great 
"  veflcls  are  built  in  New-York,  alfo  in  the  Chefa- 

peak,  and  in  South-Carolina:  thefe  lall,  made  of 

green  oak,  are  of  an  unequalled  folidity  and  dura- 
♦'  bility.'» 

The  American  Proverb  fays :  Thai  to  have  a  perfeSl 
veJJ'el^  it  mu/i  have  a  Bo/ion  bottom  and  Phiiaddphiajides, 

The  French,  if  connoilTeurs  be  believed,  are  very 
inferior  to  the  Americans  in  the  minutiae  of  (hip- 
building.  This  fuperiority  of  America  ought  not 
to  furprife  us :  it  will  ftill  incrcafe.  The  indepen- 
dent Americans  who  inhabit  the  coafts,  live  by  the 
fea,  and  pride  themfelves  in  navigation.  As  they 
have  competitors,  their  genius  will  never  fleep,  nor 
will  its  efforts  be  fhackled  in  anv  manner  whatever. 
In  France,  the  people  are,  and  ought  to  be  culiva- 
tors;  the  marine  is  but  a  fubordinate  part,  and  by 
the  nature  of  things,  it  muft  enjoy  but  a  very  preca- 
rious confideration.  Honour,  which  affects  the 
head  of  every  Frenchman,  is  diftributcd  but  at  Pa- 
ris and  at  Court ;  and  there  mtn  are,  and  mufl  Aili 

be, 


«( 


(( 


■s'' 


\i' 


156  <»N  THE  COMMLKCK  OT"  THf 

be,  far  from  perceiving  the  importance  of  attnchirrr 
merit  to  the  improvement  of  fhip-buiUiing;  it  mult 
therefore  languifli,  or  yield  to  that  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. Hence  it  refults,  that  the  French,  in  prc- 
ferving  every  thing  which  can  maintain  amongfl 
them  an  able  clafs  of  fiiip-buikiers,  muft  buy  vcflels 
of  the  Americans;  becaufc  every  convenience  is 
imited  to  tiiat  of  facilitating  iheir  recij)rocal  impor- 
tations and  ^.xport'itions,  of  which  the  bulks  are  fo 
diifercntin  one  nation  from  thofe  of  the  other. 

This  ciroiimrtance  is  attended  with  the  advantage 
of  proc\iring  the  French  merchant  an  American  vef- 
fel  at  a  lefs  price  than  if  he  had  ordered  it  to  be  built, 
or  if  he  bought  it  in  America,  becaufe  it  will  always 
be  more  to  the  interell  of  the  American  to  fell  his 
vefTel,  than  to  take  it  back  in  ballaft. 

Such  is  the  fitnefs  of  American  veflels  for  the 
French  marine,  and  efpecially  for  merchant  fervice  ; 
fuch  is  that  iiti>efs  for  all  the  European  powers  who 
have  harbours  and  fea-port  towns,  that  I  think  a  fure 
and  commodious  road  in  Europe  would  foon  be  af- 
forted  with  American  veflels  for  fale,  if  every  thing 
which  can  encourr.ee  a  like  depoiitory  were  granted 
to  the  port  wherein  this  road  might  be.  This  mar-" 
ket  for  vefltls  will  be  eftablilhcd: — the  Enolifli  reject 
at.     France  wiH,  in  a  fliori  time,  encourage  it. 

SECTION  X. 

General  ConJiJerations  en  the  preceding  Catalogue  of  Im- 
portations from  the  United  States  into  France, 

The  lift  which  I  have  gone  through  of  the  arti- 
cles with  which  the  independent  Americans  may 
furniih  Europe  in  exchange  for  her  merchandize  is 
not  very  long ;  but  thefe  articles  are  confidcrablc, 
and  important  enouj'Ji  in  tliemfelves  to  merit  the  at- 
temion  of  European  niCrch:ti,;b:  they  are  fufficient 
to  deftroy  the  prejudices  of  thofe  who,  under  the 

falfe 


TfNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  15*/ 

falfe  pretext  of  the  inability  of  the  Americans  to  fur- 
nifh  articles  of  exchange,  difdain  a  reciprocal  com- 
merce with  the  United  Stares.  Thefe  articles  arc  not, 
however,  the  only  ones  wnich  France  may  receive 
from  them.  Independently  ofpot-afli,  fo  precious 
to  maniifa<5tiires,  and  of  which  tlie  fcarcity  becomes 
daily  more  fenfible,  iron,  vegetable-wax,  wool,  flax, 
hemp,  &c.  may  increafe  the  number.  The  Engliih 
received  of  pot-afli  to  the  amount  of  four  hundred 
thouiand  livres  per  anmim,  during  the  years  1768, 
1769,  and  1770:  pot-a(h  being  the  produce  of  the 
wood  burnt  by  the  Americans,  and  as  the  burning 
cf  wood  muft  increafe  with  the  number  of  peo|)le, 
the  quantities  of  pot-afii  rauft  have  increafed  with 
population. 

I  ought  to  hope  that  the  work,  once  known  in 
the  United  States,  will  excite  the  independent  Ame- 
ricans to  co-operate  with  me,  in  what  I  have  pro- 
pofed  to  myfelf,  which  is  to  fpread  inftrucftion  on 
every  thing  which  relates  to  their  country.  They 
will  make  known  to  Europe,  in  a  more  extenfive 
and  complete  manner,  every  thing  which  can  main- 
tain that  reciprocal  commerce  in  favour  of  which 
i  write:  they  will  aiTemble  in  a  work  correfpondent 
to  this,  all  that  I  have  been  able  to  expofe  but  im- 
perfe«5tly:  ihey  will  redify  my  errors.  I  invite  tiiem 
to  apply  to  ihis  interefting  fubje<5t:  I  pray  them  to 
give  it  for  a  bafis,  more  philofophical,  and  philan- 
throphical  principles,  than  thofe  which  have  hither- 
to directed  the  jealous  induftry  of  each  fociety.  For 
each,  led  on  by  a  blind  ambition,  has  wiflied  to 
embrace  every  thing,  to  dd  every  thing  at  home, 
and  furnifh  every  thing  to  others;  each  has  ^iken 
for  principle  to  receive  nothijig  from  others,  except 
it  be  gold;  each  has  accullomed  itfelf  to  look  upon 
€very  produftion,  manufa6turedor  unmanufaAured, 
whicti  it  fent  abroad  as  a  profit,  and  all  thofe  which 
it  received  as  fo  many  lolTes.     Such  is  the  idife  prin- 

P  ciple. 


tj 


I^  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

ciple,  according  to  which  all  the  European  natioij* 
have  direifled  their  exterior  commerce. 

What  would  be  the  confequence  of  a  like  fyftem, 
if  it  continuecf  to  prevail?  All  nations  would  be 
ftrangcrs  to  each  other,  and  exterior  commerce  ab- 
folutely  annihilated;  becauie  it  tends  to  take  from 
this  commerce  that  which  fupports  it.  For  the  gold 
which  is  wilhcd  for  in  payment  for  cxportations  is 
refufed  to  thofe  who  would  obtain  it:  all  nations 
look  upon  the  ncceflity  of  giving  it  alike;  that  it  is 
difadvantageous — and  drive  to  avoid  it.  If,  there- 
fore, on  one  fide,  none  will  take  return  in  kind,  and 
on  the  other,  nobody  will  difpofltfs  himfelf  of  hia 
gold,  what  will  become  of  exchanges?  what  will 
become  of  commerce? 

Nature,  which  intended  to  make  men  (o  many 
brothers,  and  nations  fo  many  families; — -nature, 
which,  to  unite  all  men  by  the  fame  tie,  has  given 
them  wants,  which  place  them  in  a  ftate  of  depen- 
dence one  on  the  other; — this  wife  nature  has,  by 
the  diilribution  of  her  gifts,  anticipated  and  con- 
demned this  exclufive  fyftem.  She  has  faid  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Nantucket,  The  rock  which  thou  in- 
habit is  rude  and  flormy;  renounce,  therefore,  the 
dcfire  of  drawing  from  it  the  delicious  wines  and 
fruits  which  more  calm  and  temperate  climates  pro- 
duce. Look  at  the  fea  which  furrounds  thee, — that 
is  thy  property  and  thy  treafure :  I  have  made  it  inex- 
hauftible;  and  if  thou  knoweft  how  to  make  ufe  of 
It;  if  thou  wilt  confine  thyfelf  thereto,  all  the  enjoy- 
ments of  the  other  continent  are  thine:  a  fingle 
flroke  of  a  harpoon,  tiexteroufly.  thrown,  will  pro- 
duce a  thoufand  times  more  wine  in  thy  cellar,  than 
if  by  a  painful  cultivation  thou  continuefl  obftinate, 
in  afting  contrary  to  my  intentions. 

Nature  holds  the  fame  language  to  the  other  inha- 
bitants of  the  earth:  (lie  tells  the  French  to  ufe  all 
:thcir  efforts  in  the. fruitful  Toil  which  flie  has  given 

themi 


M 

! 


IINITBD  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  1  59 

!lfcm,  and  to  ccafe  traverfing.foreign  feas  to  obtain, 
at  an  immcnfe  expencc  and  much  rilk,  the  fifli  and 
oil  which  the  inhabitants  of  Nantucket  procure  witii 
[;i:rater  facility  and  more  fucccfs  and  economy. 

Why  (liould  not  all  nations  underftand  a  language 
f»  fia'.ple,  10  wife,  and  fo  proper  to  produce  univcr- 
fal  harmony?  liut  how  are  they  to  be  made  to  un- 
tlerftand  it?  By  what  nTeans  are  they  to  be  prevail- 
td  upon  to  adopt  it  ?  What  means  are  proper  to  en- 
gage nations  which  might  have  a  diret't  commerce 
between  them,  to  fign  a  treaty  of  commerce,  which 
ihould  leave  each  at  liberty  to  furnifh  that  which  it 
could  export  better  and  cheaper  than  others;  and 
thus  edablifli  exchanges  on  the  immutable  laws  of 
nature? 

As  foon  as  nations  fhall  be  enlightened  enough  to 
perceive  the  advantage  of  fuch  a  treaty,  from  that 
moment  it  will  ccafe  to  be  neceflary,  and  every  other 
treaty  will  be  flill  lefs  fo.  It  will  then  be  feen,  that 
they  all  center  in  the  fingle  word  Uberiy.  It  will  be 
difc.overcd  that  liberty  can  put  every  thing  in  its 
j)lace;  that  liberty  alone,  without  negociation  or 
parchment,  can  every  where  give  birth  to  an  advan- 
tageous induftry.  Finally,  that  every  where,  and  at 
all  times,  flie  has  fported  with  ihofe  commercial 
conventions,  of  which  pofiticians  have  fo  ridicu- 
loutly  boafted ;  of  thofe  conventions  wherein  the 
contrafling  parties  arc  incefTantly  on  the  defenfive 
with  rcfpe^t  to  each  other — inceffantly  difpofed  to 
deceive,  and  frequently  multiply  the  feeds  of  war  in 
a  work  of  peace. 

Under  fuch  a  fyftem  of  liberty,  there  would  be  no 
longer  occafion  for  craftinefs  in  national  policy  with 
refpeft  to  commerce: — of  what  ufe  would  it  be? 
No  more  ftrife;  for  it  would  have  no  obje^J^:  no 
more  jealoufy  or  rivality;  no  more  fear  of  making 
others  profper  and  become  rich;  becaufc  the  riches 
©f  each  (late  would  be  advantac;eou?  to  the  whole. 


Vz 


In 


! 


r 


160  OH  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

In  a  word,  accorJing  to  this  fyftcm,  each  nation 
■would  wifli  the  other  more  means,  in  order  to  h.ive 
more  to  give  and  more  to  receive.  Commerce 
would  b.}come  what  it  ought  to  be,  the  cxchaiige  of 
induftry  again  ft  induftry  j  of  enjoyments  againft  en- 
joyments, and  not  againft  deprivations:  finally,  a 
Hate  of  riches,  without  poverty  on  any  fide. 

What  people  have  more  right  and  title  than  the 
Americans,  to  be  the  fiirt  in  adopting  fo  philanthro- 
i)ical  a  fyftem,  and  which  is  (o  conformable  to  the 
Jaws  of  nature — at  lead  to  do  nothing  which  fliall 
retard  it  among  them?  Let  their  Congrefs, — that 
refpedable  aflembly,  which  may  become  the  light 
of  nations,  and  from  whole  deliberations  univt-rfal 
happinefs  may  refult, — remain  faithful  to  the  indica- 
tions of  this  nature;  let  it  interrogate  her  conftantly, 
and  give  every  nation  the  fame  lalulary  habitude. 

If  Europe  refufes  to  admit  the  productions  of  the 
United  States,  letCongrefs,  rejecting  the  poor  policy 
of  reprifah,  open,  by  a  great  and  republican  refolu- 
tion,  their  ports  to  all  European  produ<5Uons.  What 
evil  can  refult  from  this  to  the  independent  Ameri- 
cans? If  European  prohibitions  rendered  their 
means  of  exchange  ufelefs,  European  merchandize 
muft  of  courfe  be  without  a  market  in  America  j  or, 
falling  to  a  mean  price  in  the  United  States,  it  would 
become  profitable  to  the  Americans  in  paying  for  it 
even  with  gold. 

The  law  may  be  given  to  an  idle  and  degraded  na- 
tion, but  never  to  one  which  is  active  and  induftri- 
ons.  This  always  punifties,  in  fome  manner  or 
other,  the  tyrannical  proceedings  of  other  nations. 
The  force  of  things  is  alone  fufticient  to  revenge  it. 

It  is  a  misfortune  to  the  United  States,  in  not 
having  been  able  to  eftablifli  at  firft  the  noble  fyftem 
of  which  I  have  i])oken,  and  to  be  obliged  to  have 
recourfe  to  the  miferablc  means  of  other  govern- 
ments,— that  of  impofing  duties  on  foreign  merchan- 
dize 


or. 


ITNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  l6l 

dize  to  pay  their  debts.  Every  iinpofuioii  but  a  quit- 
rent  upon  land  is  a  fource  of  errors.  T\\^ pretended 
prote^ing  duties  impofed  in  Europe  are  one  confe- 
quencc  of  thcfe  errors,  and  of  which  the  etfcift  leads 
government  allray,  fo  far  as  to  perfuade  thrnn,  tliat 
tiiey  poflefs  a  creative  force  equal  to  that  of  the  Divi- 
nity himfelf.  And  what  are  thefe  tnttrprifes  by 
which  men  would  force  nature?  Miferable  hot- 
lioufes, — wherein  every  thing  is  haftened  to  finifli 
the  fooner;  wherein  induftry  vainly  exhaufts  itfelf 
to  fupport  an  unnatural  exiftcnce;  and  wherein  a  vi- 
gorous whole  is  frequently  facrificed  to  a  corrupted 
part. 

Let  the  Americans  carefully  avoid  thefe  erroneous 
cntcrprifes:  to  infure  ihemfelves  therefrom,  let  them 
confider  the  ftate  of  Europe.  The  Europeans  have 
no  longer  any  jud;^ment  in  matter^  of  impoft:  fimple 
ideas  are  lofl,  and  become  impoflible  to  be  realized 
by  the  metaphyfician,  which  it  is  neceflary  to  employ 
to  (ombat  ignorance,  prejudices  and  habitudes:  all 
ideas  of  juuice  and  propriety  are  confounded.  A 
truth  cannot  be  advanced  without  meeting,  at  every 
moment,  falfe  notions  to  combat.  The  man  of  in- 
formation is  fatigueil,  difgufted,  and  frequently  at  a 
iofs  what  to  anfwer  to  objeftions  proceeding  from 
habits  of  error.  He  perceives  with  concern,  that 
the  laws  of  happinefs  cannot  be  written,  but  upon 
tables  from  which  there  is  nothing  to  be  effaced :  and 
fuch,  I  flatter  myfelf,  is  the  fituation  of  the  United 
States.  They  are  yet  virgin  ftates — they  are  unac* 
quainted  with  tiie  inftitut'ons  which  end  in  chaos, 
wherein  the  love  of  public  good  lofes  all  its  force. 

Montefquieu  obferves,  that  the  enterprifes  of  mer- 
chants are  always  neceifarily  mixed  with  public  af- 
fairs; but  that  in  monarchies,  public  affair^  are  for 
the  mod  part  fufpic  ious  in  the  eyes  of  the  merchants. 
But  profperlty  and  national  glory  depend  on  com- 
merce, as  much  in  monarchies  as  in  other  conllitu- 

P  3  tions. 


ib'j. 


ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 


h'; 


\n 


tions.  It  is  therefore  the  intereft  of  monarchies  to 
give  to  merchants  that  hope  of  profperity  which  they 
have  in  repubHcs,  and  which  inclines  ihem  with  ar- 
ilour  to  every  kind  of  commercial  cnterprife. 

Provincial  adminiftrations  are  the  fureft  means  of 
producing  th's  happy  effeft.  If  they  were  already 
cftabiilhed,  the  French  would  comprehend,  how  ab- 
fmb  it  is  to  imagine  that  the  United  States  will  not 
difcharge  their  public  debt;  how  impoffiblc  it  is  that 
Republicans  fliould  make  ufe  of  the  dilhonourable 
refource  of  bankruptcy  and  deception;  and  that  their 
public  fpirit,  their  morals,  and  inttreft,  require  them 
to  difcharge  this  debt,  contra6ted  for  the  mod  legiti- 
mate and  honourable  caufe  that  ever  exifted;  and„ 
which  is  otherways  but  an  atom  when  compared 
with  their  immenfe  rcfources.  French  merchants 
would  then  give  themfelves  lefs  concern  about  the 
manner  in  which  their  merchandize  was  to  be  paid 
for  in  America.  For  in  the  improbable  cafe  of  a 
want  of  American  productions,  or  of  precious  me- 
tals, they  have,  as  a  laft  refource,  thfe  paper  of  Con- 
greis  and  the  States ;  which  paper  it  is  an  advantage 
to  acquire,  by  the  price  at  which  it  is  obtained,  by 
the  intereft  it  bears,  the  certainty  of  its  being  paid- 
and  by  the  confequent  tranfmiilion  which  may  be 
made  of  it  in  commerce  to  ;he  Dutch  merchant,  to 
whom  the  paper  of  the  v/hole  world  becomes  necef- 
fary  the  moment  it  merits  confidence. 

J  have  mentioned  precious  metals.  The  Ameri- 
cans arc  in  the  neighbourhood  of  tae  countries  which 
produce  them.  Thefe  countries  are  the  abodes  of 
indolence,  which  difpenfes  not  with  neceflaries. 
Skins,  &c.  of  animals,  and  fomc  metals,  are  every 
thing  that  can  be  given  there  in  exchange  for  articles 
of  fubfiftence,  which  the  inhabitants  have  not  the 
courage  to  make  their  lands  produce,  and  for  the 
r  xeflaries,  for  which  they  find  it  more  convenient 
to  pay  with  gold  than  with  their  induftry.    The  in- 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  165 

dependent  Americans  will  become  faftors,  ndvanta- 
geoufly  placed  between  European  manufadures,  and 
the  iiihabiiants  of  regions  condemned  by  nature  to 
the  fterile  produ6lions  of  metals.  All  the  powers  of 
Spain  cannot  prevent  this,  jior  ought  even  to  under- 
take it.  This  new  confideration  promifing  to  the 
French  payment,  fo  fooliflily  defired  in  gold,  ought 
to  encourage  them  to  prepare  for  a  commercial  con- 
nexion with  the  United  States. 


CONCLUSION, 

And  Reflexions  on  the  Situation  of  the  United  States-, 


I 


T  will  be  proper  to  finifli  this  volume  by  fome- 
explanations  of  the  pretended  troubles  which  agi- 
tate the  United  States.  Thcfe  explanations  are  ne- 
ceflary  to  deftroy  the  unfavourable  impreflions  which 
mull  be  made  by  the  unfaithful  recitals  of  gazette 
writers,  who,  from  fervile  prejudices,  or  mean  iate- 
rcft,  afFe£l  to  fpread  doubts  of  the  happy  confequen- 
ces  of  the  revolution.  If  we  believe  thefe  people, 
the  independent  Americans  are  plunged  into  inextri- 
cable embarraflments,  forced  to  become  bankrupt?:, 
given  up  to  the  moft  viol^vnt  anarchy,  expofcd  to  th; 
tomahawk  of  the  implacable  Indians,  Sec.  How  is 
it  poflible  to  refolvc  to  carry  on  a  commerce  with 
people  whofe  fituation  is  fo  deplorable?  Ought  not 
their  ruin  to  be  feared  rather  than  their  fortune  hoped 
for,  in  the  connexions  which  it  h  wifhed  to  form 
with  them? 

It  13  neceflarv  to  refute  thefe  falfehoods.  It  is  fo 
much  the  more  fo,  as  ignorance  eafily  leads  people, 

lUtle  acquainted  with  republican  couititutions,  into 

error  i 


' 


164  ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE 

error;  and  that,  led  aftray  by  the  prejudices  of  t;\eir 
educations,  a  great  number  ol  Frenchmen  look  upon 
this  form  of  government  as  a  (late  perpetiially  in  a 
ferment,  wherein  life  and  property  are  continually 
cxpofed  to  the  greateft  dangers. 

Thefe  prejudices  lead  to  the  belief  of  the  moft 
puerile  and  abfiird  fables.  The  leaft  attention  is  not 
paid  to  circumftances.  Would  the  United  States 
have  a  Congrefs  of  magillrates  if  it  were  true  that 
the  people  were  at  war  with  them?  For  how  could 
Congrefs  and  the  magiftrates  defend  themfelves? 
They  have  no  other  defence  but  the  refpeft  which 
each  individual  has  for  the  law ;  this  is  their  only 
force.  It  is  the  obligation  ihat  the  conftitution  im- 
pofcs  on  them,  in  common  with  the  meancft  citi- 
zens, of- bting  obedient  to  the  law,  as, the  laft 
means  which  conftitute  their  only  fafety,  and  which 
maintains,  in  all  cafes  and  every  where,  the  authority 
which  the  people  have  confided  in  them.  They 
cannot  employ  a  phyfical  force  farther  than  the  peo- 
ple are  willing  t6  lend  them,  becaufc  they  have  nei- 
ther an  army  nor  foldiers  in  pay. 

A  diver/ity  of  opinion  exifts  wherever  there  are 
men.  It  belongs  not  to  one  conftitution  rrore  than 
to  another;  but  the  cifence  of  a  republican  gcvern- 
went  is  to  leave  to  each  individual  the  liberty  of  ex? 
preffing  his  fentiTients  on  every  fubjeft. 

In  the  United  States,  legiflation  is  more  and  more 
formed  in  proportion  as  things  relative  to  each  other 
are  verified,  extended,  and  multiplied.  Is  it  afto- 
nifliing  that  debates  (hould  arife  on  account  :>f  the 
different  laws  which  are  propofed,  difcuffed,  and 
adopted?  Thefe  debates  become  public,  animate 
Gonverfation,  and  make  it  highly  interefting.  But 
is  this  anarchy? 

The  word  anarchy  is  one  of  thofe  words  which 
has  been  moft  abufed  and  mifapplied.  It  is  there*, 
fore  neceflkry  to  expiam  k.  . 

'  Where 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  l6^; 

Where  anarchy  reigns,  there  is  neither  chief,  go- 
vernment, laws,  nor  fafety.  Each  individual  be- 
comes the  defender  of  his  own  perfon,  the  foclal 
contrafl  is  broken,  and  there  is  no  longer  any  con* 
ndence  or  tranfaftions,  becaufe  there  can  be  na 
more  contradi;.  Authority,  changing  at  every  in- 
ilanc  its  rules,  principles,  and  aim,  becomes  cruel 
or  contemptible;  it  deftroys,  or  is  deflroytd.  SucU- 
a  flare  exiles  not  long;  or  if  it  docs  exilt,  it  foon  di- 
vides iociety  into  armed  hmis,  enemies  to  each 
other,  and  which  lubliit  but  in  proportion  as  they 
fear  and  counterbalance  each  other's  power. 

Is  any  thing  like  this  feen  in  the  United  Stales  ? 
Are  there  difputes  even  about  the  principles  of  the- 
confritution,  the  fundamental  laws,  or  the  propofed 
end?  Has  ^^ot  every  thing  relative  to  this  been  long 
lince  agreed  upon?  Tue  prelent  debates  relate 
wholly  to  fv)me  rules  of  adminiftration  :  it  is  upon 
the  bed  manner  of  ferving  the  public  caufe,  and  of 
fupporting  it,  that  minds  are  ftiil  in  a  f^lutary  agita- 
tion; and  this  agitation  hinders  not  more  the  regular 
courfe  of  public  affairs  and  tranfaftions,  than  the 
debates  in  the  Englifli  Parliament  hinder  the  mo- 
narch from  naming  to  offices  and  conferring  rank*— 
than  they  ftop  the  courfe  of  juftice,  or  are  impedi- 
ments to  the  affairs  cf  every  clais  of  citizens. 

The  word  anarchy  is  proper  to  Hates  which,  like 
l^gypt,  have  twenty-four  fovereigns,  and  neither 
laws  nor  gi)vernment.  It  is  applicable  to  the  dege- 
nerated conflitutions  of  Afia,  where  the  adminiftra- 
tion is  divided  into  feveral  departments,  independent 
of  c;ach  other,  traverfing  one  another  in  their  views 
and  prctenfions,  the  operations  of  one  part  interfer- 
ing with  thofe  of  the  other,  all  having  the  power  of 
niaking  particular  laws,  or  of  fiifpending  the  effe£t 
of  thofe  which  exift.  There  a  real  anarchy  reigns, 
becaiife  it  is  not  knovn  where  the  government  is, 
nor  in  whom  the  legiflative  power  is  vefted,     Thia, 

incertitude 


: 


I 

t 


I- 


t06 


ON  THE  COMMERCE  OF  TKE 


incertitude  brings  on  diforder,  renders  property  un-- 
liable,  and  endangers  pcrfonal  fafeiy.. 

None  of  thefe  evils  exifi:  in  the  United  States.. 
America  is  not  vet  gnawed  by  the  vermin  which 
devour  Europe,  by  indeftru<ftible mendicity  :  thieves- 
render  not  her  iortds  dangerous ;.  her  public  roads- 
are  not  ftained  with  blood  flied  by  airidins.     How 
fhould  there  be  aflaffins  and  robbers?    "^rhere  are  no  • 
beggars,  no  indigent  perfons,.  no  fiibjeils  forced  to  ^ 
ileal  thefubfiftence  ofothersto  procure  one  to  them-- 
ielves*     Every  man  finds  there  lands  to  produce  him  • 
articles  of  fubfiftence  :-.  it  is  not  loaded  with  taxes,, 
but  renders-to  each,   with  uftiry,  a  recompenfe  for 
his  labour.      A  man  who  can  live  eafy  and  honour- 
ably, never  confents  to  difhonour  hinilclf  by  ufelefs 
crimes,,  whichdeliver  himto  the  torments  of  remorfe,  , 
diflionour,  and  the  vengeance  of  fociety. . 

The  ravages  of  the  feven  years  war  were  undoubt- 
edly terrible;  but  as  foon  as  the  faulchion  could  be 
converted  into  a  plough-fhare,  the  land  became  fer- 
tile, and  mifery  difappeared.  The  American  foldiers  • 
were  citizens;  and  they  were  alfo  proprietors  before 
they  became  foldiers;  .they  remained  citizens  in  uni- 
form, and  returned  to  their  profeffions  on  quitting  , 
it;  they  did  not%ht  for  money,  nor  by  profeffion, 
but  for  their  liberty^  their  wives,  children,  and  pro- 
perty; and  fuch  foldiers  never  refenvbled  the  banditti 
of  the  old  continent,  who  are  paid  for  killing  their 
ijillow-creatures,  and  who  kill  on  the  highways  for 
their  own  accourJ:,  when  peace  obliges -their -maflers 
to  diibaiid  them. ,  There  hay  been  feen  in  America 
(what- the  annals  of  tho world. prefent  not  in  any 
Hate,  except  that  of  Rome)  a  General,  adored  by  his 
foldiers,  dived  himfelf  •  ot ,  his  power  as  foon  as  his 
fcrvices  became  no  longer  neciilhry,  ziid  retire  into 
the  bofom  of  peace  and  oV>fcurity  :  a  numerous  ar- 
roy,  winch  was  not  paid,  was  f^en  grneroufly  to  con- 
flint  to  dilband  without  payment;  the  foldiers  to  re- 

t\rc> 


UNITED  STATES  OF  A»rEllICA.  1&7 

'tire,  each  to  his  home,  without  committing  the  leaft 
vtHforder,  and  where  each  tranquilly  retook  either  his 
plough,  or  his  firft  trade  or  profclfion;  thofe  tradec 
which  we  in  Europe  look  upon  as  vile. 

The  following  advertifement  is  taken  from  the 
American  papers,  in  which  there  are  a  thoufand 
others  of  a  like  nature. 

Two  brothers,  Captains  whodiftingniflied  them- 
feives  during  the  war,  returned  at  the  peace  to  their 
trade  of  hat-making; — they  inferted  in  the  gazette 
ail  advertifement  as  fol'ows : 

"  The  brothers  Bickers  inform  the  public,  that 
"  they  a.*e  returned  to  their  old  profefiion  of  hatters, 
"  which  they  had  abandoned  to  defend  the  liberty 
**  of  their  country.  They  hope  that  their  fellow  ci* 
"  tizens  will  be  pleafed,  in  confideration  of  their 
"  courage  and  f*rvices,  to  favour  them  in  their  bu- 
"  finefs,  and  prefer  them  to  others."  What  Euro- 
pean Captain  wQuld  put  his  name  to  a  like  advertife- 
.ment? 

Tliis  is  what  refults  from  liberty :  but  what  is  in- 
conceivable in  moft  European  ftates,  a  military  fpi- 
rit  reigns  there,  and  its  prejudices  are  predominant. 
War  is  the  road  to  glory, ambition,  and  fortune;  and 
to  preferve  to  this  profeffion  its  luftre  and  prepon- 
derance, it  is  an  eftablifhed  principle,  that  -Sifiandlng 
.^;7/;^  is  neceflary  to  maintain  order  in  fociety;  that 
it  ought  always  to  threaten  the  citizens,  although 
peaceful,  to  keep  them  in  fuhmiflion  to  authority. 
This  ufelefs  burden,  this  pernicious  fpirit,  is  un^ 
known  to  the  United  States ; — public  fpirit,  much 
more  favourable  to  good  order,  takes  its  place,  and 
peace  and  fafety  reign  without  marechaufleeor  fpies, 
or  that  police  which  difparages  the  motals  and  cha- 
racters of  citizens.  Public  fpirit  fupplies  the  place 
of  all  thefe  means,  whilft  they  will  nev  cr  fupply  the 
want  of  public  fpirit,^  nor,  like  it,  pi'oducc  the  hap- 
ipinefs  of  fociety. 

In 


Of68  OK  THE  COMMERCE  OT  THE 

In  vain  will  prejudiced  men  exclaim,  that  this  is 
declamation — 1  oifer  them  tadts.  It  is  neccffary  to 
read  the  American  gaztttes — not  thofe  altered  by  the 
Englifli  gazette- '.V filers,  but  thofe  whicn  are  printed 
in  America:  thefe  only  can  give  a  juft  idea  of  the 
iituation  of  the  United  States. 

The  American  flioukl  rather  defpife  Europe,  in 
remarking  to  us  the  continual  flaugliter  we  make  of 
thieves  and  alfallins;  in  comparing  the  inimcnle 
number  of  dungeons,  prifons,  holpitals,  atid  eftab- 
liflmients  of  every  kind,  inftituted  to  cure  or  palliate 
the  incurable  ulcers  of  the  old  inft'tutions :  in  com- 
paring this  difgufting  lift  with  the  very  few  murders 
and  thefts  committed  in  the  United  States,  with  the 
hofpitals,  truly  domeftic  and  humane,  which  are  eftab- 
liflicd  there,  with  the  happincf:i  of  each  American 
family  and  tlieir  fimple  manners;  and  in  proving  to 
us,  by  their  example,  that  a  wiie  liberty  regulates  the 
focial  man,  and  renders  ufelefs  thofe  ruinous  ma- 
chines with  whidi  he  is  crufhed,  left  he  fliould  do 
any  harm.  ^  .**» 

Thefe  arc  the  men,  the  laws,  and  the  govern- 
ment, which  Europeans  have  calumniated.  Thefe 
men  who  are  deftined  to  regenerate  the  dignity  of 
the  human  fpecies! — Thefe  laws  which  fcourge  no- 
thing but  crimes, — which  puniftithem  every  where, 
and  are  never  lilent  in  the  face  of  power  ! — This  go- 
vernment, which  is  the  firft  that  ever  prefented  the 
image  of  a  numerous  family,  well  united,  and  com- 
pletely happy ;  wherein  power  is  juft,  becaufe  it  circu- 
lates through  every  hand,  and  refts  in  none;  where- 
in obedience,  becaufe  it  is  voluntary,  anticipates 
command ;  whereinadminiftrationisfimpleand  eafy; 
becaufe  it  leaves  induftrv  to  itfelf ;  wherein  the  ma- 
giftrate  has  little  to  do,  becaufe  the  citizen  is  free, 
and  that  a  citizen  always  refpecfls  the  law  and  his 
fellow  creatures!  Thefe  are  tlie  prodigies  which  we 
calumniate:  we,  Europeans,  enflaved  by  antiquated 

conftitutions., 


VWITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  169 

conditutlons,  and  by  the  habitudes  given  to  us  by 
prejudices,  of  which  we  know  not  either  the  barba- 
rity or  the  frivoloufnefs !  We  fpeak  well,  but  aft 
badly;  why,  therefore,  do  we  calumniate  men,  who 
not  only  fpeak  but  aft  well  ?  If  it  be  not  permitted 
us  to  have  their  virtues,  nor  to  enjoy  their  happi- 
nefs,  let  us  not  decry  them  ;  let  us  refpeft  that  fu" 
periority  to  which  we  cannot  attain. 

It  will,  perhaps,  be  objefted,  that  the  government 
of  England  has  deferred  the  conclufion  of  a  treaty  of 
commerce  with  the  United  States,  under  the  pre- 
text that  their  conftitutions  were  not  yet  fufficiently 
cftabliflied.  But  can  it  be  imagined  that  the  Englifli, 
who  trade  in  Turky,  with  the  Algerines,  and  at  Grand 
Cairo,  were  ferious  when  they  decried  and  rejcfted 
commercial  connexion?  with  the  United  States,  un- 
der the  pretence  that  their  legiflation  was  not  yet  well 
enough  efiablifhed? 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  difference  of  pofition 
between  the  French  and  Englifli  merchants,  refpeft- 
ing  their  governments,  has  a  great  influence  upon 
their  reciprocal  profperity;  and  for  this  reafon,  it 
ihould  be  inceflimtly  repeated  to  tl  e  French  govern- 
ment, that  if  it  vviflies  to  infure  profperity  to  its  com- 
merce, it  ought  to  adopt  the  means,  which  are,  liberty 
of  a^ing^^ — the  right  of  ■protejiing  againjl  the  attempts 
made  on  that  liberty^ — and  the  certai?ity  of  jufiice^ — 
without  refpeB  to  perfons : — thefe  are  the  bafis  of  the 
genius,  induftry,  and  greatnefs  of  a  fl:ate;  and  with- 
out which,  a  great  commerce  cannot  exift:  this  bafis 
may  be  eafily  conciliated  with  the  French  conftitu* 
lion. 

'^arisy  February^   1.789. 


Q- 


APPENDIX. 


% 


APPENDIX; 


CONHSTIMO   0> 


AUTHENTIC   PAPERS 


AND 


ILLUSTRATION  S. 


Added  b^  the  Editor. 


iX.^ 


APPENDIX. 

tt^fturn  of  the  ichoU  Kumber  of  Perfons  within  the  fcwral  Dif" 
tr'iHs  of  the  United  States  ^  according  to ''^  an  A^  providin\^ 
for  the  Enumeratioti  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  United  States  i" 
pajfed  March  the  if^    '  7  9 1  v 

The  return  for  South-Carolina  having  been  made  ftnce  the  following 
Schedule  was  originally  Tinted,  the  whole  Enumeration  i<  here 
given  complecei  except  for  the  North- Weflern  Territoryi  of  which 
no  RetHrn  has  yet  been  publlfhe^* 


*■«-•    *«  • 

•*             i       •«     1 

• 

« 

0  ••  (« 

w 

■^        <« 

M 

"3 

.Ji*5 

g 

U    M  Vm 

e 

f«    «*, 

*2 

H  ■'$  0 

S  0 

u 

(3  a.  « 

w    3  TJ 

• 

,w    to 

OXSTKICTS. 

V0 

•|i 

J 

SlaTei. 

Total. 

"■^l^ 

5     « 

».  ' 

V 

( 

0   23  •»     • 
5  2  -a  «> 

siZ 

SJ--5  2 

•s 

E  Sl  3   w 

s  S 

»■    3    V 

0 

fci-o 

^-z-a 

"S.S  6 

9 

3  s 

< 
*ss 

Verrr»ont 

«a,435 

22,328 

40,505 

16 

85.S39 

M.HampIhiie 

36,0^6 

34,85  » 

70,160 

630 

»5« 

141,885 

Maine 

24,384 

24,748 

46,870 

53a 

MONK 

96,540 

Mairachufettt 

95.453 

87,289 

190,582 

5463 

NON« 

378,787 

Rhode-lfland 

16,019 

>5>799 

3a>652 

3407 

948 

68,825 

ConneiJlicut 

60,5x3 

54,403 

117.448 

2808 

2764 

237,946 

New-York 

83,700 

78,122 

i52»3ao 

4654 

a»ri*4 

340,120 

New-Jerfey 
Pennlylvania 

4S.aS' 

41,416 

83.a87 

3762 

iiM*3 

184.^39 

110,788 

106,948 

206*363 

6537 

3737 

^34.373 

Delaware 

11,783 

12,143 

.    12,384 

•  3899 

8887 

59.094 

Maryland 

55»9'5 

5>.339 

101,395    8043] 

103,036 

319,728 

V^irginia 

110,936116,135 

215,046 

12,866 

192,637 

747,frio 

Kentucky 

I5»i«4 

>  17.057 

18,92a 

114 

12,430 

73.677 

N.  Carolina 

69,988 

77,506 

140,710 

4975 

100,572 

393.75^ 

S.  Carolina 

35.576 

37,7a» 

66,880 

1801 

107,094 

249*073 

Georgisi 

I3.i«3 

14,044 

a5»739 

..    39S 

29,264 

82, 54 J 

807,094 

791,850 

i,?4T,263 

S9.\p 

6^4,280' 

3>^9;<*fi3< 

i/>  no  , 

3    «s 

^ 

• 

• 

a  z 

males 
I  year 

3S 

■i 

a 

SUtcs. 

Tota]. 

.m       K        ^ 

S    rt    » 

tu    0    3 

II 

=3  e 

S.W.TerrJyj        6271 
M.  ditto.        1         

10,277 

"S.S^^S 

361 

3417     35,b9i[ 

fLi 


SchcduJt 


'74 


APPENDIX. 


Schedule  of  the  nhole  Kumher  of  Perfons  in  tic  Tariiory  of 
the  United  States  of  America^  South  of  the  River  Ohio^  as 
taken  on  the  I  aft  Saturday  of  Jaly^  i"}^!^  by  the  Captains 
of  the  Militia  imthin  the  Limits  of  their  rejpe^ive  Dijiriils^ 


111 

1 

• 

a 

•«  1 

±^2 

• 
a 

• 

>> 

tQ 

1 

3  vT  ■§ 
6  1^ 

6  ® 

-.1  -^ 

ii. 

1 

e 

0 
u 

''5 

.A 
w 
rl 

1  l^^l 

WASHINGTON 

J  {«  p. 

«  2  = 

1- 

u 

0 

• 

• 

fa 
«^ 
0 

-a 

0 

/iJ^H 

DISTRICT. 

.   rWafhington 

.5  E 

< 

</> 

H 

H 

I 

1009 

1792 

as  24 

12 

535 

5872 

fl 

,5      Sullivan 

3o6 

1242 

»995 

207 

297 

4447 

H 

c  -l  Greene 

1293 

2274 

35JIC 

40 

454 

774» 

JH 

o 

Hawkins 

1104 

197c 

2921 

68 

807 

6970 

r^^^H 

U 

S.  of  F.  Broad 

681 

loSia 

2627 

66 

163 

3619 

:^|H 

28,649 

MERO 

1^1 

DISTRICT. 

'H 

g  f  Davidfon 

639 

855 

1288 

j8 

651, 

3459 

H 

g  <  Sumner 

404 

582 

854 

8 

34^ 

2196 

H 

O  (.Tenncfrec 

a3S 

38c 

576 

4^ 

'54 

138, 

7042 

I 

6271 

10,277 

15.365 

361 

3417 

35.691 

l<fote.-~iThere  are  feveral  Captains  who  have  not  as  yet  returned 
the  Schedules  of  the  numbers  of  their  Di.lrifis,  namely  } — in  Greene 
County,  three— in  Davidfoni  one— and  South  of  Frcnch-Boardj  one 
Diftria. 

September  19th,  I79it 

W.  BLOUNT. 

By  the  Governor, 
Dami£l  Smith,  Secretary, 

Truly  ftated  from  the  original  returns  dcpofited  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 

T.JEFFERSON. 
OMer  2\^  1791. 

In 


the 


In 


APPENDIX.  tj^ 

In  point  of  fize  the  towns  in  the  United  States 
jnay  be  raniced  in  this  order: — Philadelphia,  New- 
York,  Bofton,  Baltimore,  Charlefton,  &c.    In  point 
of  trade,  New-York,  Philadelphia,  Bofton,  Charlef- 
ton, Baltimore,  &c. 

From  the  preceding  tables  it  is  indubitable  that 
the  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  United  States  con- 
fidcrably  exceeded  four  millions  in  the  year  1791, 
exclufive  of  thofc  in  the  Northern  Territory,  and 
fome  other  diftri^ts.  If  to  this  we  add  Dr.  Frank- 
lin's calculation,  **  That  the  number  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  America  is  double  every  twenty  years," 
this  number  muft  be  increafed  to  confiderably  above 
eight  millions  in  the  year  i8u,  exclufive  of  emi- 
grants from  the  Old  World. 

The  Englilh  reader,  we  hope,  will  not  be  offend- 
ed, if,  in  this  place,  we  fay  a  word  or  two  on  the 
population  of  Great-Britain.  It  is  a  current  opi- 
nion, that  the  population  of  our  ifland  is  yearly  in» 
creafing.  The  fa<^  is  quite  the  reverfe:  but  the  af- 
fertion  would  fignify  nothing,  if  there  were  not  ia- 
conteftible  proofs  of  it.     The  proofs  are  thefc  :— 

Number  of  houfes  in  England  and 
Wales,  taken  from  the  return  of  the  fur- 
veyors  of  the  houfe  and  window  duties; 
wherein  they  are  itated  diftindtly,  darn- 
ed, chargeable  and  excufed. 

Total  of  houles  in  1759  .         .  986,48a 

— — in  1 761  .         .  980,69a 

in  1777  .         .  95^,734 

Total  of    houfes   according   to   the 
hearth-books  in  1690,  as  ftated  by  Dr. 
Davenant  (fee  his  works,  vol.  i.  page  38)     1,319,215 
In  Scotland  the  number  of   houfes  paying  the 
houfe   and    window    duties   was,    in    1777,    only 
;  6,206. 

If  the  diflrift  returns  of  the  pariflies  are  examin- 
ed, it  will  be  mauifcft,  that  a  calculation  ot  five 

perfons 


If 

I 


B 


l?i 


i7;0  APPENDIX, 

* 

perfons  to  every  houfe  is  a  large  allowance.  From 
ail  which  this  refult  is  obvious — That  the  mmiber 
of  inhabitants  in  England  and  Wales  is  confiderably 
fhort  oi  five  millions.'  that,  perhaps,  including  Scot- 
land, the  'whole  ifland  of  Great-Britain  does  not  ex- 
ceed that  number. 

The  curicfity  of  the  prefent  moment  may  allow 
us  to  caft  our  eyeupon  France,  concerning  this  fub- 
jeft.  The  intendanls  of  the  province's  of  France 
were  ordered,  in  the  years  1771  and  1772,  to  make 
sr  return  of  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  their  re- 
fpeiStive  diftrifts.  The  return  of  1772  ftatcs  the 
number  to  be  25,741,320.  See  Reclwches  fur  la p* 
^ulation  de  la  France^  par  3L  Moheau* 

It  would  be  a  right  meafure  in  every  government 
to  caufe  a  furvey  to  be  made  annually  of  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants.  It  is  done  at  Naples  by  order  of 
the  King,  and  is  publiflied  annually  in  the  Court 
Calenders.  America  will  probably  follow  the- ex-- 
ample, . 


Ohfervations  on  the  Population  of  jimerica.      Jf^ritten  hj^ 
Dr,  Benjamin  Franklin^     Printed  at  Philadelphia  iOh 
the  Year  1755. 

Tables  of  the  proportion  of  marriages  to  births^ 
of  deaths  to  births,  of  marriages  to  the  numbers  of 
inhabitants,  &g.  formed  on  obfcrvations  made  on 
the  bills  of  mortality,  chriilenings,  &:c.  of  populous 
cities,  will  not  fuit  countries;  nor  will  tables  formed 
on  obfervations  made  on  full  feitled  old  countries^ 
as  Europe,  fuit  new  countries  as  America. 

For  people  incrcafe  in  proportion  to  the  number  ■ 
of  marriages,  and  that  is  greater  in  proportion  to 
the  eafe  and  convenience  of  fupporting  a  family. 
When  families  can  be  cafily  fupporicd,  more  per- 
ibas  marry,  and  earlier  iu  life,  - 

la- 


APPENDIX.  177 

In  citlcs:  where  all  trades,  occupations,  and  of- 
wees  are  full,  many  delay  until  they  can  fee  how  to 
bear  the  charges  of  a  family ;  which  charges  are 
greater  in  cities,  as  luxury  is  more  common  ;  many 
live  lingle  during  life,  and  continue  fervants  to  fa- 
milies, journeymen  to  trades,  &c.  hence  cities  do 
not  by  natural  generation  fupply  themfelves  with 
inhabitants ;  the  deaths  are  more  than  the  births. 

In  countries  full  fettled  the  cafe  muft  be  nearly 
the  fame  ;  all  lands  being  occupied  and  improved  to 
the  height,  thofe  who  cannot  get  land  muft  labour 
for  thofc  who  have  it;  when  labourers  are  plenty, 
their  wages  will  be  low;  by  low  wages  a  family  is 
fupported  with  diffculty  ;  this  difficulty  deters  man)i 
from  marriage,  who  therefore  long  continue  fervants 
and  fingle.  Only  as  cities  take  fupplies  of  people 
from  the  cauntry,  and  thereby  make  a  little  more 
room  in  the  country,  marriage  is  a  little  mere  en- 
couraged there,  and  the  births  exceed  the  deaths. 

Gicat  f'^Tt  of  Europe  is  full  fettled  with  hufband- 
men,  manufaf^iurers,  Sec,  and  tncrefore  cannot  now 
much  increafe  in  people.  Land  being  plenty  in 
America,  and  io  cheap  as  that  a  labouring  man, 
who  underftands  hufbandry,  can  in  a  Ihort  time  fave 
money  enough  to  purchafe  a  piece  of  nevv  land  fuf- 
ficient  for  a  plantation,  whereon  he  may  fubfift  a 
family,  fuch  are  not  afraid  to  marry ;  for  even  if 
they  look  far  enough  forward  to  confider  how  their 
children,  vv lien  grown,  are  to  be  provided  for,  they 
fee  that  more  land  is  to  be  had  at  rates  equally  eafy, 
all  ci**cum fiances  confidered. 

Hence  marriages  in  America  are  more  general, 
and  more  generally  early,  than  in  Europe.  And  if 
it  is  reckoned  there,  that  there  is  but  one  ?"narriage 
per  annum  among  one  hundred  perfons,  perhaps  we 
may  here  reckon  two;  and  if  in  Europe  they  have 
but  four  births  to  a  marriage  (many  of  their  marri- 
ages being  late)  we  may  here  reckon  eight;  of  which, 

if 


13 


178  ApPE»Dl5e. 

if  one  half  grow  up,  and  our  marriages  are  made^ 
reckonwg  me  nvith  another^  at  tiventy  yecrs  of  age^  our 
people  muji  at  leajl  be  doubled  every  tvjinty  years* 

But  notwithftanding  this  increafe,  fo  vaft  is  Jic' 
territory  of  North-America,  that  it  will  require 
many  ages  to  fettle  it  JFully;  and  until  it  is  fully  fet- 
tled, labour  will  never  be  cheap  here,  where  no  maiv 
continues  long  a  labourer  for  others,  but;gets  a  plan- 
tation of  his  own;  no  man  continues  long  a  jour- 
neyman to  a  trade,  but  goes  among  thcfc  new  fet- 
tlers,  and  fets  up  for  himfclf,  &x^  Hence  labour  is 
no  cheaper  now  in  Pennfylvania.  than  it  w?.s  thirty 
years  ago,  though  fo  many  thoufand  labouring  peo- 
ple have  been  imported  from  Germany  and  Ireland. 

In  proportion  to  the  increafe  of  the  colonies,  a 
va(t  demand  is  growing  for  Britifti  manufaftures ;  a 
glorious  market  wholly  in  Itie  power  of  Britain,  in 
which  foreigners  cannot  interfere,  which  will  in*- 
creafe  in  a  (hort  time  even  beyond  her  power  of* 
fupplying,  though' her  whole  trade  iliouid  be  to  her^ 
coloiiles. 

Of  the  Weftern  Territory,, 

It  Is  a  miftake  in  thofe  who  ^mr^gine  that  t!  •  ne\* 
^tc  of  Kentucky  comprifes  the  Weftern  Territory 
of  North-America.  That  new  ftate  includes  but 
a  fraall  part  of  this  great  domain..  The  ftate  cf 
Kentucky  is  defcribed  to  be  bounded  on  the  foutU 
by  North-Carolina,  on.  the  north  by  Sandy  creek, 
on  the  weft  by  CumherKind  river^  making  nbouS 
two  hundred  and  fifty  miles.iir  length,  and  two  hun- 
dred miles  in  breadth;:  whereas  the  whole  Wefteru 
Territory  is  infinitely  more  extenfive.  The  limit* 
are  unknown  ;■.  but  that  part  of  it  whicl-.  was  fur- 
veyed  by  Ca])tain  Hutchins,  geographer  tv>  the  Con- 
jyefsj.he.  has  given  us  a  ftiort  account  of.     From  hi» 

uc  county 


APPEUDIX..  JJ^ 

•tccmint,  becaufe  it  is  known  to  be  authentic,  we 
have  extracted  the  followins. 

The  part  he  furvcyed  lies  between  the  33d  and 
45th  degrees  of  latitude,  and  the  78th  and  94th  de- 
grees of  longitude,  containing  an  extent  of  terri- 
tory, which,  for  healthfulnefs,  fertility  of  foil,  and 
.variety  of  produiSlions,  is  not  perhaps  furpaHed  by 
any  on  the  habitable  globe. 

'*  The  lands  comprehended  between  the  river 
Ohio,  at  Fort-Pitt,  and  the  Laurel  mountain,  and 
thence  continuing  the  fame  breadth  from  Fort-Pitt 
to  the  Great  Kanhawa  river,  may,  according  to  my 
own  obfervations,  and  thofe  of  the  late  Mr.  Gift, 
of  Virginia,  be  generally,  and  juftly  defcribcd  as 
follows. 

*'  The  vallles  adjoining  to  the  branches  or  fprings 
of  the  middle  forks  of  Youghiogeny,  are  narrow 
towards  its  fource;  but  there  is.a  conficlerable  quan- 
tity of  good  farming  grounds  on  the  hills,  near  the 
largefl  branch  of  that  river.  The  lands  within  a 
irnall  diftance  ,of  the  Laurel  mountain  (through 
which  the  Youghiogeny  runs)  are  in  many  places 
broken  and  ftony,  but  rich  and  well  timbered-;  and 
in  fonic  places,  cind  particularly  on  Laurel  creek, 
they  are  rocky  and  mountainous. 

*^'  From  the  Laurel  mountain  to  Monongahcia, 
•the  firft  feven  miles  are  good,  level  farming  grounds, 
twith  line  meadows;  the  timber,  white  oak,  chefnut, 
hickory,  &c.  The  fame  kind  of  land  continues 
ibutherly  (twelve  miles)  to  the  upper  branches  *or 
forks  of  this  rivei:,  and  about  fifteen  miles  northerly 
to  the  place  where  the  Youghiogeny  falls  into  the 
IVIonongahela.  The  lands,  for  about  eighteen  miles 
in  the  fame  courfe  of  the  laft-mentioned  river,  on 
each  fide  of  it,  though  hilly,  are  rich  and  well  tinv 
bered.  The  trees  are  walnut,  locuft,  chefnut,  pop- 
lar, and  fugar  or  fweet  maple.  The  low  lands,  near 
;hc  river,  :^re  about  51  mile,  and  in  fcvexal  places 

tVfQ 


fSo  appendix; 

two  miles  wide.  For  a  confiderable  wav  down  the 
river,  on  the  eaftern  fide  of  it,  the  intervals  are  ex- 
tremely rich,  and  about  a  mile  wide.  The  upland 
for  about  twelve  miles  eaitwardly,  are  uncommonly 
fertile,  and  well  timbered;  the  low  lands,  on  the 
weftern  fide,  are  narrow;  but  the  uplands,  on  the 
.eaftern  fide  of  the  river,  both  up  and  down,  are  ex- 
cellent, and  covered  with  fugar  trees,  &c. 

"  Such  parts  of  the  country  which  lie  on  fome  of 
the  branches  of  the  Monongahela,  and  acrofs  the 
heads  of  feverai  rivers  that  run  into  the  Ohio, 
though  in  general  hilly,  are  exceedingly  fruitful  and 
well  watered.  The  timber  is  walnut,  chefnut,  afh, 
oak,  fugar  trees,  &c.  and  the  interval  or  meadow 
lands  are  from  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  to  a 
.quarter  of  a  mile  wide. 

'^  The  lands  lying  ncnrly  in  a  north- wefterly  di- 
i^reftion  from  the  Great  Kanhawa  river  to  the  Ohio, 
and  thence  north-eafterly,  and  alfo  upon  Le  Tort's 
creek,  Little  Kanhawa  river,  Buffaloe,  Fifliiiig, 
Weeling,  and  the  two  upper,  and  two  lower,  and 
ieveral  other  very  confiderable  creeks,  (or  what,  in 
Europe,  would  be  called  large  rivers)  and  thence 
eaft,  and  fouth-eait  to  the  river  Monongahela,  are, 
in  point  of  quality,  as  follows. 
,  *'  The  borders  or  meadow  linds  are  a  mile,  and 
in  fome  places  near  two  miles  wide:  and  the  uplands 
are  in  common  of  a  moft  fertile  foil,  capable  of 
abundantly  producing  wheat,  hemp,  flax,  &^c. 

ti  'piig  lands  v;hich  lie  upon  the  Ohio,  at  the 
mouths  of,  and  between  the  above  creeks,  alfo  con- 
iift  of  rich  intervals  and  very  fine  farming  grounds. 
The  whole  country  abounds  in  bears,  elks,  buffaloe, 
deer,  turkies,  &c.  Anunqueflionable  pn  /f  of  the 
extraordinary  goodnefs  of  its  foil !  Indiana  lies 
within  the  territory  here  defcribed.  It  contains 
about  three  millions  and  an  half  of  acres,  and  was 
grante  i  to  Samuel  Wharton,  William  Trent,  and 

George 


APPENDIX.  l8l 

'George  Morgan,  Efquires,  and  a  few  other  perfons, 
in  the  year  1768. 

"  Fort-Pitt  flands  at  the  confluence  of  the  Alleg- 
heny and  Monongaheh  rivers;  in  latitude  40^^31' 
44'',  and  about  five  degrees  weftward  of  Philadel- 
phia. In  the  year  1760,  a  fmall  town,  called  Pittf- 
oiirgh,  was  built  near  Fort-Pitt,  and  abont  two 
hundred  families  refided  in  it;  but  upon  the  Indian 
war  breaking  out  (in  the  month  of  May,  J763) 
rhey  abandoned  their  houfes,  and  retired  into  the- 
fort. 

*'  In  the  year  176;  the  prtient  town  of  Plttfbnrgh 
'was  laid  out.  It  is  built  on  the  eaftern  bank  of  the 
j'ver  Monongahcla,  about  two  hundred  yards  from 
Fort-Pitt. 

*'  The  jun<?^Ion  of  the  Allegheny  and  M(^nonga- 
hela  rivers  forms  the  river  Ohio,  and  this  difcharges 
itfelf  into  the  Miiliffippiv(in  latitude  36^  43  0  about 
one  thoufand  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  com- 
puted miles  from  Fort-Pitt.  The  Ohio,  in  its  paf- 
fage  to  the  Miffiirippi,  glides  through  a  pleafant, 
fruitful,  and  healthy  country,  and  carries  a  great 
uniformity  of  breadth,  from  four  hundred  to  fijc 
iiundred  yards,  except  at  its  confluence  with  the 
MiiTifllppi,  and  for  one  hundred  miles  aliove  it, 
where  it  is  one  thoufand  yards  wide.  Th.-  Ohio, 
for  the  greater  part  of  the  way  to  the  Milfiilippi, 
lias  many  meanders,  or  windings,  and  rifing  grounds 
^ipon  both  fides  of  it. 

"  The  reaches  in  the  Ohio  are  in  fome  parts  from 
two  to  four  miles  in  length,  and  one  of  them,  above 
the  Muflcingum  river,  called  the  Lon:^-  Reach,  i» 
fixteen  milesand  an  half  long.  The  Ohio,  about 
100  miles  above,  or  northerly  of  the  Rapids,  (for- 
merly called  the  Falls)  is  in  many  places  700  yards 
wide;  and  as  it  approaches  them,  the  high  grounds 
on  its  borders  gradually  diminifli,  and  the  country 
becomes  more  level.    Some  of  the  banks,  or  heights 

R  of 


102 


APPENDIX. 


of  this  river,  are  at  times  overflowed  by  great  frefhes; 
yet  there  is  fcarcc  a  place  between  Fort-Pitt  and  the 
Rapids,  (a  diftance  of  705  computed  miles)  where 
a  good  road  may  not  be  made  ;  and  horfes  employ- 
ed in  drawing  up  large  barges  (as  is  done  on  the  mar- 
gin df  the  river  Thames  in  England,  and  the  Seine 
in  France)  again  ft  a  ftream  remarkably  gentle,  ex- 
cept in  high  freflies.  The  heights  of  the  banks  of 
the  Ohi©  admit  them  every  where  to  be  fettled,  as 
they  are  not  liable  to  crumble  away. 

"  To.thefe  remarks  it  may  be  proper  to  add  the 
following  obfervations  of  the  ingenious  Mr.  Lewis 
Kvans.  He  fays,  that  '  the  Ohio  river,  as  the  win- 
ter fnows  are  thawed  by  the  warmth  or  rains  in  the 
fpring,  rifes  in  vaft  floods,  in  fome  places  exceeding 
twenty  feet  in  height,  but  fcarce  any  where  over- 
flowing its  high  and  upright  banks.  Thefe  floods,' 
Mr.  Evans  adds,  *  continue  of  (omt  height  for  at 
leail:  a  month  or  two,  according  to  the  late  or  early 
breaking  up  of  the  winter.  Veflels  from  100  to  200 
tons  burthen,  by  taking  the  advantage  of  thefe  floods, 
may  go  from  Pittiburgh  to  the  fea  with  fafety,  as 
then  the  falls,  rifts,  and  ftioals,  are  covered  to  an  e- 
quality  with, the  reft  of  the  rivers;' — and  though  the 
diftance  is  upwards  of  2000  miles  from  Fort-Pitt  to 
the  fea,  yet  as  there  are  no  obftru6tions  to  prevent 
veflels  ""^m  proceeding  both  day  and  night,  lam 
perfuaded  that  this  extraordinary  inland  voyage  may 
be  performed,  during  the  feafon  of  the  floods,  by 
i"Owing,  in  fixteen  or  fevent'^en  days. 

"  The  navigation  of  the  Ohio  in  a  dry  feafon,  is 
rather  troublefome  from  Fort-Pitt  to  the  Mingo 
town  (about  75  miles)  but  from  thence  to  the  Mif- 
fiflippi  there  is  always  a  fufficient  depth  of  water  for 
barges, carrying  from  100  to  200  tons  burthen,  built 
in  the  manner  as  thofe  are  which  are  ufed  on  the  ri- 
ver Thames,  between  London  and  Oxford ; — to  wit, 
from  100  to  laoiiect  in  the  keel,  fixteen  to  eighteen 

feet 


the 


.VPPENDIX.  iSfj 

{cet  in  breatiiii,  and  four  feet  in  depth,  and  when 
loaded,  drawing  about  three  feet  water. 

"  The  Rapids,  in  a  dry  feafon,  arc  difficult  to  de- 
fcenci  with  loaded  boats  or  barges. 

[But  inftcad  of  the  carrying  place  now  ufed,  it  is 
intended  to  fubilitute  a  canal  on  the  contrary  fide  of 
the  river.] 

*'  Moft  of  the  hills  on  both  fides  of  the  Ohio  are 
filled  with  excellent  coal,  and  a  coal  mine  was  in  tli» 
year  1760,  opened  oppofite  to  Fort-Pitt,  on  the  river 
Monongahela,  for  the  ufe  of  that  garrifon.  Salt 
fprings,  as  well  as  iron  ore,  and  rich  lead  mines,  are 
found  bordering  upon  the  river  Ohio.  One  of  the 
latter  is  opened  on  a  branch  of  'he  Scioto  river,  and 
there  the  Indian  natives  fupply  theuifelves  with  a 
CDnfiderablc  part  of  the  lead  which  they  ufe  in  their 
wars  and  hunting. 

*'  About  584  miles  below  Fort-Pitt,  and  on  the 
eaftern  fide  of  the  Ohio  river,  about  three  miles  from 
it,  at  the  head  of  a  fmall  creek  or  run,  where  arc  fe- 
veral  large  and  miry  fait  fprings,  are  found  number.; 
of  large  bones,  teeth,  and  ti'.llis,  connrnnly  fuppofed 
to  be  thofe  of  elephants: — but  the  celebrated  Doftor 
Hunter  of  London,  in  his  ingenious  and  curious 
obfervations  on  thefe  bones,  6cc.  hac  fuppofed  them 
to  belong  to  forne  carnivorous  animal,  larger  than 
an  ordinary  elephant. 

"  On  the  north-weftern  fide  of  Oliio,  about  eleven 
miles  below. t  he  Cherokee-river,  on  a  high  bank,  are 
the  remains  of  Fort-Maflac,  built  by  the  French, 
and  intended  as  a  check  to  the  fouthern  Indians.  It 
was  dertroycd  by  them  in  the  year  1763.  This  is  a 
high,  healthy,  and  deligluful  fituation.  A  great  va- 
riety of  game,  buffaloe,  bear,  deer,  &c.  as  well  as 
,  ducks,  geefe,  fwans,  turkies,  pheafants,  patridges, 
&:c.  abounds  in  every  part  of  this  country. 

"  The  Ohio,  and  the  rivers  emptying  into  it,  af- 
ford green  and  other  turtle,    and  fifh  of  various 

R  2  forts 


p 


i^M 


184  APPENDIX. 

ibrts;  particularly  carp,  fturgeon,  perch,  and  cats;, 
the  twolatter  of  an  uncommon  fizc,  viz.  perch  from 
eight  to  twelve  pounds  weight,  and  cats  from  fifty 
to  one  hundred  })ounds  weight. 

**  Tiie  lands  upon  tlie  Ohio,  and  its  branches,  are 
differently  timbered  according  to  their  quality  and 
firualion.  The  high  and  dry  lands  are  cc vered  with 
red,  white  and  black  oak,  hickory,  walnut,  red 
and  white  mulberry  and  afli  trees,  grape-vines,  &c. 
the  low  and  meadow  lands  are  filled  with  fycamore, 
])oplar,  red  and  white  mulberry,  cherry,  beach, 
elm,  afpen,  maple,  cr  fugar  trees,  grape-vines, 
l^zc.  and  below,  or  fourhsvardly  of  the  Rapids,  are 
I'everal  Lirge  cedar  and  cyprtfi  Ivvamps,  where  the 
cedar  and  cyprefs  trees  grow  to  a  remarkable  fize, 
iuid  where  alfo  is  a  great  abundance  of  canes,  fuch 
as  grow  in  South-Carolina.  The  couiUry  on  both 
iides  oi  the  Ohio,  extending  fouth-ealierly,  and  fouth- 
weflerly  from  Fort-Fitt  to  the  Miiriflippi,  and  water- 
ed by  the  Ohio  ri^er,  anri  its  branches,  contains  at 
leail  a  million  of  fquare  miles,  and  it  may,  with 
truth,  be  atl:rmed,that  no  part  of  the  globe  is'blefled 
with  a  more  healthful  air,  or  climate';  watered' with 
more  navip;able  rivers  and  branches  communicating 
with  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  by  the  rivers  Potowmack, 
James,  Rappahannock,  MillilTippi,  and  St.  Law- 
renje,  or  cajxible  of  producing,  with  lefs  labour  and 
«'xpence,  wheat,  Indian  corn,  buck-wheat,  rye,  oats, 
barley,  flax,  hemp,  tobacco,  rice,  filk,  potafti,  &c. 
ti^an  tliC  country  underconfidcration.  And  although 
there  are  confKlerable  quantities  of  high  lands  for 
about  250  miles  (on  both  fides  of  the  river  Ohio) 
fouthwardly  from  Fort  Pitt,  yet  even  the  fummits 
of  moft  of  the  hills  are  covered  with  a  deep  rich  foil, 
iit  for  the  culture  of  flax  and  hemp;  and  it  may  alfo 
be  added,  that  no  foil  .;,n  poflibly  yield  larger  crops 
of  red  and  white  clover,  and  other  ufeful  grafs,  than 
this  does. 

"  Oa 


APPENDIX. 


i8< 


ifty 


arc 
the 


*' On  the  north-weft  and  fouth-eafl  fides  of  the 
Ohio^  below  the  great  Kanhawa  river,  at  a  little  dif- 
tancefrom  it,  are  extenfive  natural  meadows,  or  fa- 
vannahs.  Tliefe  meadows  are  from  20  to  50  miles 
in  circuit.  They  have  many  beautiful  groves  of 
trees  interfperfed,  as  if  by  art,  in  them,  and  which 
ferve  as  a  flielter  for  the  innumerable  herds  of  bufFa- 
loe,  deer,  &c.  with  which  they  abound. 

*'  I  am  obliged  to  a  worthy  friend  and  country- 
m?:n  for  the  following  nift  and  judicious  obferva- 
tions.  They  were  addrefled  to  the  Earl  of  Hilhbo- 
rough,  in  the  year  1770,  when  fecretary  of  ftate  for 
the  North- American  department;  and  were  written 
by  Mr.  Samuel  Wharton  of  Philadelphia,  who  at 
that  time  redded  in  London,  having  fome  bufinefs 
there  with  Mr.  Strahan,  Mr.  Almon,  &c. 

"  No  part  of  North-America,"  he  fays,  **  will  re- 
quire lefs  encouragement  for  the  produ<5lion  of  na- 
val ftores,  and  raw  materials  for  manufactories  in 
Europe,  and  for  fupplying  the  Weft-India  ifl^nds 
with  lumber,  provifions,  &c.  than  the  country  of  the 
Ohio;— and  for  the  following  reafons: — ^ 

"  Firft,  The  lands  are  excellent,  the  climate  tem- 
perate, the  native  grapes,  filkworms,  and  mulberry 
trees,  abound  everywhere:  hemp,  hops,  and  rye, 
grow  fpontaneoufly  in  the  vallies  and  low  lands;  lead 
and  iron  ore  are  plenty  in  the  hills;  fait  fprings  are 
innumerable;  and  no  foil  is  better  adapted  to  the  cul- 
ture of  tobacco,  flaxj  and  cotton,  than  that  of  the 
Ohio. 

'  *'  Second,  The  country  is  well  watered  by  feveral 
navigablerivers,  communicaliiig  with  each  other;  by 
which,  and  a  fh'jrt  land  carriage,  the  produce  of  the 
landsof  the  Ohio  can,  even  now  (in  the  year  1772)  be 
fent  cheaper  to  the  fca-porttown  of  Alexandria,  on  the 
river  Fotovvmack  in  Virginia  (where  General  Bra<i-. 
dock's  tranfports  landed  his  troops,)  than  any  kind 
of  merchandize  is  feat  from  Northampton  to  London. 

P.  3  ^'Thirdj. 


^1/^ 


iff-' 


]86 


ArPtNDIX. 


*'  Third,  The  river  Oiiio  is,  nt  nil  feafons  ot  the 
year,  navigable  with  large  bonts,  like  the  weft  coun- 
try bargef,  rowed  only  by  four  or  five  men ;  and  i 


roni 
mav  be 


the  month  of  February  to  April  large  fliips 

built  on  the  Ohio,  and  fent  to  fea  laden  with  hemp, 

iron,  flax,  filk,  tobacco,  cotton,  pot-afli,  ike. 

*'  Fourth,  Flour,  corn,  beef,  ftiip  plank,  and  other 
ufcful  articles,  can  be  fent  down  the  ftream  of  the 
Ohio  to  Wclt-Florida,  and  from  thence  to  the  Wefl- 
India  iflands,  much  cheaper,  and  in  better  order, 
than  from  New-York  or  Philadelphia  to  thefe  iflands. 

"  Fifth,  Hemp,  tobacco,  iron,  and  luch  bulky  ar- 
ticles, may  alfo  be  fent  down  the  ftream  of  the  Ohio 
to  the  fca,  and  at  leaft  50  per  cent,  cheaper  than 
thefe  articles  were  ever  carried  by  land  carriage,  of 
only  60  miles,  in  Pcnnfylvaria:  where  waggonage  is 
cheaper  than  in  any  other  pai'  of  North- America. 

**  Sixth,  Tiie  expence  of  tranfporting  European 
manufaftories  from  the  fea  to  the  Ohio,  will  not  be 
fo  much  as  is  now  paid,  and  muft  ever  be  paid,  to  a 
great  part  of  the  counties  of  Pennfyivania,  Virginia, 
and  Maryland.  Whenever  the  farmers  or  merchants 
of  Ohio  fliall  properly  underftand  the  bufinefs  of 
tranfportation,  they  will  build  fchooncrs,  floops,  &c. 
on  the  Ohio,  fuitable  for  the  Weft-India,  or  Euro- 
pean markets;  or,  by  having black-wahuit,  cherry- 
tree,  oak,  &c.  properly  fawed  'or  foreign  markets, 
and  formed  into  rafts,  in  the  manner  that  is  now 
done  by  the  fettlers  near  the  upper  parts  of  Dela- 
ware river  in  Pennfyivania,  and  thereon  ftow  their 
hemp,  iron,  tobacco,  &c.  and  proceed  with  them  to 
New-Orleans. 

"  It  may  not,  perhaps,  be  amifs,  to  obferve,  that 
large  quantities  of  flour  are  made  in  the  diflant  (wel- 
tern)  counties  of  Pennfyivania,  and  fent  by  an  cx- 
pcnfive  land  carriage  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and 
from  thence  fliipped  to  South-Carolina  and  to  Eaft: 
and  Weft  Fiorida,  there  being  little  pr  no  whea.t 

yjiifcd 


i^ 


tlic 
un- 
om 
be 
np, 

her 
tlie 

der, 
uls. 

ar- 
)hio 
han 

of 
gcis 


APPENDIX.  187 

raiTed  in  thcfe  provinces.  The  river  Ohio  fecnis 
kindly  dr»f^ned  by  nature  as  the  channel  tinough 
which  the  two  Floridas  may  be  fupplicd  with  tloiir, 
not  only  for  their  own  confuniption,  but  ailb  for  tlie 
carrying  on  an  extenfive  commerce  with  Jamaica 
and  the  Spanifli  fettlements  in  the  Bay  of  Mexico. 
Millftones  in  abundance  are  to  be  obtained  in  the 
hills  near  the  Ohio,  and  the  country  is  every  where 
well  watered  with  large  und  conilant  fprings  and 
ftreams,  for  grift  and  other  mills. 

"  Tlie  pafl'age  from  Philadelphia  to  Penfacola 
is  feldom  made  in  lefs  than  a  montlx,  and  fixty  fliil- 
lings  flerling  per  ton  freight  (confifting  of  (ixteen  bar- 
rels) is  nfually  paid  for  flour,  &c.  thither.  Boats 
carrying  800  or  1000  barrels  of  flour,  may  go  in 
about  the  fame  time  fromtheOhio  (even  from  Pittf- 
burgh)  as  from  Philadelphia  to  Penfacola;  and  for 
half  the  above  freight  the  Ohio  merchants  would  be 
able  to  deliver  flour,  &c.  there  in  much  better  order 
than  from  Philadelphia,  and  without  incurring  the 
damage  and  delay  of  the  fea,  and  charges  of  infur- 
ance,  &c.  as  from  thence  to  Penfacola. 

*' This  is  not  mere  fpeculation;  for.it  is  a  hS:, 
that  about  the  year  1 746,  there  was  a  great  fcarcity 
of  provifions  at  New-Orleans,  and  the  French  fet- 
tlements, at  the  Illinois,  fmall  as  they  then  were,  fent 
thither  in  one  winter,  upwards  of  ei^ht  hundred  thou- 
fand  weight  of  flour." 

**  I  ftiall  now  proceed  to  give  a  brief  account  of 
the  feveral  rivers  and  creeks  which  fall  into  the  river 
Ohio. 

"  Canawagy,  when  raifed  by  frefhes,  is  paflable 
with  fmall  batteaux,  to  a  little  lake  at  its  head; — from 
thence  there  is  a  portage  of  twenty  miles  to  lake 
Erie,  at  the  mouth  of  Jadaghque.  The  portage  is 
feldom  nfed,  becaufe Canawagy  hasfcarcely  any  wa- 
ter in  it  in  a  dry  feafoii. 

"  Bughalooo*, 


J« 


lS8  ArPKNDTX. 

**  Bughaloons  is  not  navigable,  but  is  remarkable 
for  extenlive  meadows  bordering  upon  it; 

♦*  French  Creek  affords  the  ncareft  paflage  to  lake 
Erie,  It  is  navigable  with  fmall  boats  to  Le  Bciif, 
by  a  very  crooked  channel;  the  portage  thence  to 
Prefquile,  from  an  adjoining  peninfula,  is  15  milca. 
This  is  the  ufual  route  from  Quebec  to  Ohio. 

**  Licking  and  Lacomic  Creeks  do  not  afi'ord  any 
navigation;  but  there  is  plenty  of  coals  and  (lones 
for  building  in  the  hills  which  adjoin  them. 

**  Toby's  Creek  is  deep  enough  for  bntteaux  for  a 
confiderable  way  up,  thence  by  a  lliort  [mortage  to  the 
weft  branch  of  Sulquehannah,  a  good  communica- 
tion is  carried  on  between  Ohio  and  the  callcrn  parts 
of  Pennfvlvania. 

"  Moghulbughkitum  is  pafTable  alfo  by  flat  bot- 
tom boats  in  the  fame  manner  as  Toby's  Creek  is  to 
Sufquehannah,  and  from  thence  to  all  the  fettlements 
in  Northumberland  county,  &:c.  in  Pennfylvania. 

*'  Kiflikcminetas  is  navigable  in  like  manner  as  the 
preceding  creeks,  for  between  40  and  50  miles,  and 
good  portages  are  found  between  Kifhkeminetas,  Ju- 
niatta,  and  Potowmack  rivers. — Coal  and  fait  are 
difcovercd  in  the  neighbourhood  of  thefe  rivers. 

"  Monongahela  is  a  1:  "ge  river,  and  at  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Allegheny  river,  ftands  Fort-Pht.  It 
is  deep,  and  gentle,  and  navigable  with  battcaux  and 
barges,  beyond  Red -Stone  crttk,  and  ftill  farther  with 
lighter  craft.  At  fixteen  miles  from  its  mouth  i-i 
Youghiogeny;  this  river  is  navigable  with  battcaux 
or  barges,  to  the  foot  of  Laurel-hill. 

"  Beaver  Creek  has  waier  fnfficient  for  flat  bot- 
tom boats.  At  Kifhkufl^es,  (about  16  miles  up)  are 
two  branches  of  this  cr^ek,  which  fpread  oppofite 
ways;  one  interlocks  wiih  French  Creek  and  Che- 
rage, — the  other  with  Mufl^incum  and  Cayahoga; 
on  this  branch,  about  thirty-five  miles  above  the 

J[orks, 


APPENDIX.  189 

/orks,  are  many  falt-fprings. — Cayahoga  is  prafti- 
tublc  with  canoes  about  twenty  milcii  farther. 

♦*  Mulkingum  is  a  fine  gentle  river,  confined 'oy 
high  banks,  whicli  ])rcvcnt  its  rioods  from  overflow- 
ing the  furrountling  laiul.  It  is  250  yards  wide  at 
its  confluence  with  the  Ohio,  and  navigable,  with- 
out any  obftruiStion?,  by  large  battcaux  or  barges, 
to  the  Tlirce  Legs,  and  by  fniall  ones  to  a  little  lake 
nt  its  head. 

**  Froni  tiience  to  Cavahoua  (tite  creek  that  leads 
to  lake  Krie)  the  Mufkingiim  is  miuidy,  ar.d  not  very 
I'vvitt,  but  no  where  obilruifted  w it'll  falls  or  rifts. 
Here  are  fine  uplands,  extenfive  meadows,  oak  and 
mulberry  trees  fit  for  fliip-building,  and  walnut,  chef- 
nut,  and  poplar  trees,  fuitable  for  domcllic  fervices. 
— Cayalioga  furniflies  the  befl  portage  between  Ohio 
and  lake  Erie;  at  its  mouth  it  is  wide  and  deep  enough 
10  receive  large  Hoops  from  tlie  lake.  It  will  hereaftei* 
be  a  place  of  great  importance. 

'*  Mufkingum,  in  all  itj  wide-extended  branches, 
is  fuiTOUnded  by  moft  excellent  land,  and  abounds 
in  fprings,  and  conveniencics  particularly  adapted 
to  fettlements  remote  from  fea  navigations; — fuch  as 
fait  fprings,  coal,  clay,  and  free  ftone.  In  1784  a 
coa!  mine  oppofite  to  Lanienfhicola  mouth  took  fire, 
and  continued  burning  about  twelve  months,  but 
great  quantities  of  coal  dill  remain  in  it.  Near  the 
fame  place  are  excellent  wheillones,  and  about  eight 
miles  higher  up  the  river,  is  plenty  of  white  and  blue 
clay  for  glafs  works  and  pottery. 

*'  Hockhocking  is  navi-Tiible  with  hi'?e  flat  hot- 
torn  boats  between  feveniy  and  eighty  miles;  it  has 
fine  meadows  with  high  banks,  which  feldf)m  over- 
flow, and  rich  uplands  on  its  borders.  Coal  and 
quarries  of  free-ftone  are  found  about  15  miles  u[> 
thii'  creek. 

'*  Big  Kanhawa  falls  into  the  Ohio  upon  its  fonth- 
eafteni  fule,  and  is  fo  confiderable  a  branch  of  this 

river, 


KjOf  APPENDIX,. 

river,  that  it  may  he  miftaken  for  the  Ohio  irfelf  by 
perfons  afcemiing  it.  It  is  How  for  ten  miles,  to  lit- 
tle broken  hills, —  the  low  land  is  very  rich,  and  of 
about  the  fame  breadth,  (from  the  pipe  hills  to  the 
fells)  as  upon  the  Ohio.  After  going  ten  miles  up 
Kanhawa,  the  land  is  hiiiy,  and  the  water  a  little 
rapid  for  50  or  60  miles  further  to  the  falls,  yet  bat- 
ti'nux  or  barges  may  be  eafily  rowed  thither.  Thefe 
falls  were  formerly  thought  impalHiblc;  but  late  dif- 
coveries  have  proved,  that  a  waggon  road  may  be 
made  through  the  mountain,  which  occafions  the 
falls,  and  that  by  a  portage  of  a  few  miles  only,  a. 
communication  mav  be  had  between  the  wattrs  of 
Great  Kanhawa  and  Ohio,  and  thofe  of  James  river, 
in  Virginia. 

"  Tottery  lies  upon  the  fouth-eaflern  fide  of  the.- 
Ohio,  and  is  navigable  with  batteaux  to  the  Ouafioto 
mountains.  It  is  a  long  river,  has  few  branches,  and 
interlocks  with  Red  Creek,  or  Clinche's  River  (x 
branch  of  the  Cuttawa;)  and  has  below  the  moun- 
tains, efpecially  for  1 5  miles  from  its  mouth,  very. 
good  land.  Here  is  a  percej)tiblc  difference  of  cli- 
mate between  the  upper  and  this  part  of  Ohio.  Hcie^- 
the  large  reed,  or  Carolina  cane,  grows  in  plenty, 
even  upon  the  upland,  and  the  winter  is  fo  moderate 
as  not  to  deftroy  it.  The  fame  moderation  of  cli- 
mate continues  down  Ohio,,  efpecially  on  the  fouth- 
eaft  fide,  to  the  rapids,  and  thence  on  both  fides  of 
Uiat  river  to  the  Mifiilfippi. 

**  Great  Salt  l.ick  Creek  is  remarkable  for  fine, 
land,  plenty  of  bnffr.ioei;,  fait  fprings,  white  clay, 
and  lim^-flonc.  Small  bents  may  go  to  the  crofling; 
of  the  war-path  without  any  impediment.  The  fait 
fprings  render  the  waters  unfit  lor  drinking,  but  the 
plenty  of  fv^ih  fprings  in  their  vicinity  makes  fuf- 
ficient  amends  for  this  inconvenience. 

*' Kentucky  is  larger  than  tiie  preceding  creek; 
it  is  furrounded  with  high  clay  banks,   fertile  lands,. 

and 


•I*, 


•\. 


ATPENDIX.  rgi 

ancVlarge  fait  fprings.  Its  navigation  is  interrupted 
by  (lioals,  but  paflabie  with  iaiall  boats  to  the  gap, 
where  the  war-path  goe^  through  the  Ouafioto 
mountains. 

"  Scioto  is  a  large  gentle  river,  bordered  with 
rich  flats,  or  meadows.  It  overflows  in  the  fpnngj 
and  then  fpreads  about  half  a  mile,  though  when 
confined  within  its  banks,  it  is  fcarce  a  furlong  wide. 

'*  If  it  floods  early,  it  feldom  retires  within  its 
banks  in  left  than  a  month,  and  is  not  fordablc  fre- 
quently inlefs  than  iwo  months. 

**  The  Scioto,  befidcs  having  a  great  extent  of 
mod  excellent  land  on  both  fides  of  the  river,  is 
furniftied  with  fait,  on  an  caftern  branch,  and  red 
bole  on  Necunfia  Skeintat.  The  flream  of  Scioto  is 
gentle  and  paflable,  with  large  batteaux  or  barges, 
for  a  confiderablc  way,  and  with  fmaller  boats  near 
200  miles,  to  a  portage  of  only  four  miles  to  San- 
dufky. 

**  Sandu/ky  is  a  confiderable  river  abounding  in 
level  land;  its  ftream  gentle  all  the  way  to  the  mouth, 
where  it  is  large  enouj^h  to  receive  floops.  Tlic 
northern  Indians  crofs  Lake  Erie  here  from  ifland  to 
ifland,  land  at  Sandufky,  and  go  by  a  direft  path  to 
the  Lower  Shawanoc  town,  and  thence  to  the  gap  of 
the  Ouafioto  mountain,  in  their  way  to  the  Cutta- 
wa  country. 

"  Little  Mineami  river  is  too  fmall  to  navigate 
with  batteaux.  It  has  much  fine  land  and  feveral 
fait  fprings ;  its  high  banks  and  gentle  current  pre- 
vent its  much  overflowing  the  furrounding  lands 
•in  freflies. 

*'  Great  Mineami,  AflTereniet  or  Rocky  river,  has 
^  very  ftony  channel;  a  fwift  ftream,  but  no  falls. 
It  has  feveral  large  branches,  j  aflable  with  boats  a 
great  way;  one  extending  wtftward  towards  tlie 
Ciuiaghtcna  river,  another  towards  a  branch  of  Mf- 
^ncami  river  (which  runs  into  Lake  Erie,)  to  which 

there 


id  ,i 


i!!;' 


IM 


!l!- 


iga  APPENDIX. 

there  is  a  portage,  and  a  third  has  a  portage  to  Ihc 
weft  branch  of  Sandulky,  befides  Mad  Creek,  where 
the  French  formerl}'  eftablKhed  themfelves.  Rifnig 
ground,  here  and  there  a  little  ftony,  begins  in  the 
northern  part  of  tlie  peninfula,  between  the  lakes 
Eric,  Huron,  and  Michigan,  and  extends  acrofs  little 
Mineami  river  below  the  Forks,  aud  fouthwardly 
along  the  Rocky  river,  to  Ohio. 

"  Buffaloe  river  falls  into  the  Ohio  on  the  eaftern 
fide  of  it,  at  the  diftance  of  925  computed  miles  from 
Fort-Pitt.  It  is  a  very  confiiderable  branch  of  the 
Ohio;  is  200  yards  wide,  navigable  upwards  of  150 
miles  for  batteaux  or  barges,  of  30  feet  long,  five  feet 
broad,  and  three  feet  deep,  carrying  about  feven  tons, 
and  can  be  navigated  much  farther  with  large  ca- 
noes. The  ftream  is  moderate.  The  lands  on  both 
fides  of  the  river  are  of  a  moft  luxuriant  quality,  for 
the  production  of  hemp,  flax,  wheat,  tobacco,  &c. 
They  are  covered  with  a  great  variety  of  lofty  and 
ufeful  timber ;  as  oak,  hickory,  mulberry,  elm,  &c. 
Several  pcrfons  who  have  afcended  this  river  fay, 
that  fait  fprings,  coal,  lime,  and  frce-ftone,  &c.  are 
to  be  found  in  a  variety  of  places. 

"  The  Wabafti  is  a  beautiful  river,  with  high  and 
upright  banks,  lefs  fubje6t  to  overflow  than  any 
other  river,  (the  Ohio  excepted)  in  this  part  of  Ame- 
rica. It  difcharges  itfelf  into  the  Ohio,  one  thou- 
fand  and  twenty-two  miles  below  Fort-Pitt,  in  lati* 
tude  37°  41'. — At  its  mouth  it  is  270  yards  wide; 
is  navigable  to  Ouiatanon  (412  miles)  in  the  fpring, 
fummer,  and  autumn,  with  batteaux  or  barges, 
drawing  about  three  feet  water.  From  thence,  on 
account  of  a  rocky  bottom,  and  ftioal  water,  large 
canoes  are  chiefly  employed,  except  when  the  river 
is  fwellcd  with  rains,  at  which  time  it  may  be  af- 
cended with  boats,  fuch  as  I  have  juft  defcribed, 
(197  miles  further)  to  the  Miami  carrying  place, 
<which  is  nine  miles  from  the  Miami  village,  and 

this 


APPENDIX. 


195 


this  is  fitualed  on  a  river  of  the  fame  name,  that 
runs  into  the  fouth-fouth-weft  part  of  Lake  Erie. — 
The  flream  of  the  Wabafli  is  generally  gentle  to 
Fort-Oiiiatanon,  and  no  where  obftrufted  with  falls, 
but  is  by  feveral  rapids,  both  above  and  below  that 
fort,  fomc  of  which  are  pretty  confiderable.     There 
isalfo  a  part  of  the  river,  for  about  three  miles,  and 
30  miles  from  the  carrying  place,  where  the  channel, 
is  fo  narrow,  thnt  it  is  ncceflfary  to  make  ufe  of  fel- 
ting poles  inftead  of  oars.     The  land  on  this  river 
is  remarkably  fertile,  and  feveral  parts  of  it  are  na- 
tural meadows,  of  great  extent,  covered  with  fine 
long  grafs.     The  timber  is  large  and  high,  and  in 
Aich  variety,  that  almoil  ill  the  different  kinds  grow- 
ing upon  the  Ohio  and  its  branches  (but  with  a 
greater  proportion  of  black  and  white  mulbcrry- 
trees)  niay  be  found  here. — A  filver  mine  has  been 
difcovered  about  28  miles  above  Ouiatanon,  on  the 
northern  fide  of  the  Wabafli,  and  probably  others 
may  be  found  hereafter.     The  Wabafh  abounds 
with  fait  fprings,  and  any  quantity  of  fait  may  be 
made  from  them,  in  the  manner  now  done  at  the 
Saline  in  the  Illinois  country: — ihe  hills  are  reple- 
Tkiflicd  with  the  bi^fl  coal,  and  there  is  plenty  of  time 
»  ad  free  (lone,  blue,   yellow  and  white  clay,  for 
glafs  works  and  pottery.     Two  French  fettlements 
are  eftablifl\ed  on  the  VVabafh,  called  Fofl  Vincient 
and  Ouiatanon;  the  firfl  ib  150  milts,  and  the  other 
262  miles  from  its  mouth.     The  former  is  on  the 
.caflern  fide  of  the  river,  and  confifts  of  60  fct tiers 
and  their  families.     They  raife  Indian  corn,  wheat, 
and  tobacco  of  an  extraordinary  good  quality,  fu- 
perior,    it   is    faid,   to  that  produced  in  Virginia. 
They  have  a  fine  breed  of  horfes  (brought  originally 
by  the  Ii?.dicins  from  the  Spanifli  fettlements  on  the 
weflcrn  fide  of  the  river  MiliiflTipDi),  aiui  large  flocks 
of  fwiiic  and  black  cattle.     The  fettlers  dtal   with 
the  natives  for  furs  and  deer  fkins,  to  the  amount  of 

S  aboiit 


# 


194  AfPENDIX. 

about  5000I.  annually.  Hemp  of  a  good  texture 
grows  i'pontaneoufly  in  the  low  lands  of  the  Wabalh, 
as  do  grapes  in  the  greateft  abundance,  having  a 
black,  thin  fkin,  and  of  which  the  inhabitants  in  the 
autumn  make  a  Aifficient  quantity  (for  their  own 
confumption)  of  well-tafted  red-wine.  Hops,  large 
and  good  are  found  in  many  places,  and  the  lands  are 
particularly  adapted  to  the  Culture  of  rice.  All 
European  fruits; — apples,  peaches,  pears,  cherries, 
currants,  goofberries,  melons,  &c.  thrive  well,  both 
here  and  in  the  country  bordering  on  tlie  river 
Ohio. 

"  Ouiatanon  is  a  fmiill  ftockaded  fort  on  the  weft- 
cm  fide  of  the  Wabafli,  in  which  about  a  dozen  fa- 
.milies  refide.  The  neighbouring  Indians  are  the 
Kickapoos,  Mufquitons,  Pyankifliaws,  and  a  princi- 
pal part  of  the  Ouiatanons.  The  whole  of  thefe  tribes 
confift,  it  is  fuppofed,  of  about  one  thoufand  war- 
riors. The  fertility  of  foil,  and  diverlity  of  timber 
in  this  country,  are  the  fame  as  in  the  vicinity  of 
Pod  Vincient.  The  annual  amount  of  ikins  and 
furs  obtained  at  Ouiatanon  is  about  8000I.  By  the 
river  V7aba{li,the  inhabitants  of  Detroit  move  to  the 
fouthernparts  of  Ohio  and  the  Illinois  country.  Their 
rout  is  by  the  Miami  riverto  a  carryingplace,  which, 
ns  before  ftated,  is  nine  miles  to  the  Wabafli,  when 
this  river  is  raifed  with  fremes ;  but  at  other  ieafons, 
the  diftance  is  from  18  to  30  miles,  including  the 
portage.  The  whole  of  the  latter  is  through  a  level 
country.  Carts  are  ufually  employed  in  tranfport- 
ing  boats  and  merchandize  from  the  Miami  to  the 
Wabafli  river. 

*'  The  Shavvanoe  river  empties  itfelf  on  the  eaftera 
fide  of  Ohioj  about  95  miles  fouthwardly  of  the 
Wabafli  river.  It  is  250  yards  wide  at  its  mouth, 
has  been  navigated  180  miles  in  battcaux  of  the  con- 
flrudionof  thofe  mentioned  in  the  preceding  article, 
and  from  the  depth  of  water,  at  that  diftance  from 

its 


«i^ 


APPENDIX.  tg^ 

its  mouth,  it  is  prefiimed,  it  may  be  nnv'gated  nuicli 
further.  The  foil  and  timber  of  the  lands  upon 
this  river  are  exadly  the  lame  as  thole  upon  Buf- 
ftiloe  river. 

*•  The  Cherokee  river  dilcharges  itfelf  into  the 
Ohio  on  the  fame  fide  that  the  Shawanoe  river  does, 
that  is,  15  miles  below  or  foutheriy  of  it,  and  n 
miles  above,  or  northerly  of  the  place  where  Fort- 
JMulVac  formerly  Hood,  and  57  miles  from  the  con- 
fluv-ace  of  the  Ohio  with  the  river  ]Miiriffip[)i.  Tl^e 
Cherokee  river  has  been  navigated  900  miles  from  its 


mouth.     At  the  dilh 


)t 


iles  from  th 


nence, 
it  widens  h*om  4^0  yards,  (its  general  width)  to  be- 
tween two  and  three  miles,  and  continues  this  breadth 
for  near  thirty  miles  farther.  The  whole  of  this  dlf* 
tance  is  Called  the  Mufcle  Shoals.  Here  the  chan- 
nel is  obftru(5ted  with  a  number  of  iflands,  formed 
by  trees  and  drifted  wood,  brought  hither,  at  differ- 
ent feafons  of  the  year,  in  freflies  and  floods.  Iii 
paffing  thefe  iflands,  the  middle  of  the  wideft  inter- 
mediate water  is  to  be  navigated,  as  there  it  isdcepeil:. 
From  the  mouth  of  the  Cherokee  river  to  Mufcle 
Shoals  the  current  is  moderate,  and  both  the  higli 
and  low  lands  arc  rich,  and  abundantly  covered  with 
oaks,  walnut,  fugar-trecs,  hickory,  &c.  About  200 
miles  above  thefe  flioah  is,  what  is  called,  the  Whirl, 
or  Suck,  occafioncd,  I  imagine,  by  the  high  moun- 
tain, which  there  confines  the  river  (fuppofed  to  bj 
the  Laurel  mountain.)  The  Whirl,  or  Suck,  con- 
tinues rapid  for  about  three  miles.  Its  width  about 
fifty  yards.  Afcendiug  the  Cherokee  river,  and  at 
about  100  miles  from  the  Suck,  and  upon  th-efouth- 
caftern  fide  of  that  river,  is  Highwafec  river.  Vail 
trads  of  level  and  rich  land  border  on  tills  river;  but 
at  a  fmall  dillance  from  it,  the  country  i.s  much  bro- 
kvrn,  and  fome  parts  of  it  produce  only  pine  trees. 
Forty  miles  higher  up  the  Cherokee  ri\'er,  on  the 
north-wefternfide,  isClinche's  liver.  It  is  150  yards 

S 1  w'ide^ 


|! 


196  APPENDCr. 

■wide,  and  about  fifty  miles  up  it  feveral  families  are 
fettled.  From  Clinciie's  lo  Tenefee  river  is  one 
hiiii'ired  miles.  It  comes  in  on  the  eaftern  fide, 
and  is  250  yards  wide.  About  ten  miles  up  this  ri- 
ver is  a  Cherokee  town,  called  Cliota,  and  fiiither 
Dp  this  branch  are  fever.il  other  Indian  towj^s,  pof- 
fefled  by  Indians,  called,  the  Ovcrhill  Cherokees. 
The  navigation  of  tl)is  branch  is  much  interrupted 
by  rocks,  as  is  alfo  the  river  called  French  Broad, 
which  comes  into  tlie  Cherokee  river  fifty  miles 
above  the  Tenefee,  and  on  the  fame  fide.  One  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  above  French  Broad  is  Long- 
Ifland,  (th:ee  miles  in  length)  and  from  thence  to  the 
fourc?of  the  Cherokee  river  is  lixty  miles,  and  the 
whole  difcarce  is  fo  rocky  as  to  be  fcarcely  navi- 
gable with  a  canoe. 

"  By  the  Cherokee  river,  the  emigrants  from  the 
frontier  counties  of  Virginia  and  North-Carolina, 
pals  tn  the  fettlements  in  Weft-FInrida,  upon  the 
river  MilliiTippi.     They  embank  at  Long-Ifland. 

"  I  will  now  proceed  to  give  a  defcription  of  that 
part  called  the  Illinois  country,  lying  between  the 
Tviiuiiiippi  weilerly,  the  Illinois  river  northerly,  the 
Wabafli  ealter.ly,  and  the  Ohio  foutherly. 

"  The  land  at  the  confluence,  or  fork  of  the  rivers 
MifTiffippi  and  Ohio,  is  above  twenty  -eei  higher 
than  the  common  furface  of  thefe  rivers;  yet  fo  con- 
jGderable  arc  the  fpring  floods,  that  it  is  generally 
overliowed  for  about  a  week,  as  are  the  lands  for 
fever:, 1  mil^s  back  in  the  country. — The  foil  at  the 
fork  is  compofed  of  mufl,  enrth,  and  fand,  accumu- 
L.ted  from  the  Ohio  and  Miflilfippi  rivers.  It  is  ex- 
ceedin^dy  fertile,  ami  in  its  natural  ftate  yields  hemp, 
pea- vine.',  grafs,  &c.  and  a  great  variety  of  trees,  and 
in  partic;ilitr  the  afpen  tree,  of  an  unufual  height 
and  thlcknefs. 

"  For  25  miles  up  the  MifTiffippi  (from  the  Ohio) 
the  country  is  rich,  level,  and  well  timbered;  and 

then 


APPENDIX.  197 

then  feveral  gentle  rifing  grounds  appear,  which 
gradually  climinifli  at  tiie  dillance  of  betvveten  four 
and  five  miles  ealhvard  from  the  river.  From  thence 
to  the  Kalkaikias  river  is  65  miles.  The  country  is 
a  mixture  of  hills  and  vallics;  fome  of  the  former  are 
rocky  and  fteep;  but  they,  as  well  as  the  valiies,  are 
fliaded  with  fine  oaks,  hickory,  walnut,  aili,  and 
mulberry  trees,  &c.  Some  of  the  high  grounds  af- 
ford moll:  pleafant  fituations  for  fettlements.  Their 
elevated  and  airy  pofitions,  together  with  the  great 
luxuriance  of  the  foil,  every  where  yielding  plenty 
of  grals,  and  ufeful  plants,  promife  health,  and 
ample  returns  to  induftrious  fettlers, 

"  Many  quarries  of  lime,  frce-flone,  and  marble, 
have  been  difcovered  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

*'  Several  creeks  and  rivers  fall  into  tlie  MilfidippI, 
in  the  above  diftance  (of  65  miles),  but  no  remark- 
able ones,  except  the  rivers  a'Vafe  and  Kaflinfkias: 
the  former  is  navigable  for  batteaux  about  60,  and 
the  latter  for  about  130  miles.  Both  thefe  rivers  run 
through  a  rich  country,  abounding  in  extenfive,  na- 
tural meadows,  and  numberlefa  herds  of  butfaloe, 
deer,  &c. 

"  The  high  grounds,  juft  mentioned,  continue 
along  the  eallern  fide  of  the  Kafkalkias  river,  at  a 
fmall  diflance  from  it,  for  the  fpace  of  five  miles  and 
a  half,  to  the  Kafkafkias  village;  then  they  incline 
more  towards  that  river,  and  run  nearly  parallel  with 
the  eallern  bank  of  the  MifiilTippi,  at  the  diftance  of 
about  three  miles  in  fome  parts,  and  f^ur  miles  in 
other  parts  from  it.  Thefe  arc  principally  com- 
pofed  of  lime  and  free-ftone,  and  from  100  to  130 
feet  high,  divlJed  in  feveral  places  by  deep  cavities, 
through  which  many  fmall  rivulets  pafs  before  they 
fall  into  the  MifiifTippi.  The  fides  of  thefc  hills, 
fronting  this  river,  are  in  many  places  perpendicu- 
lar, and  appe;;r  like  folid  pieces  of  ftone  mafonry, 
of  various  colours,  figures,  and  fizes, 

S3  ''  Th.2. 


WP 


tgB  APPENDIX. 

*'  The  low  land  between  the  hills  and  the  Mif- 
fiffippi  begins  on  the  north  fide  of  the  Kafkalkias 
river,  and  continues  for  three  miles  above  the  river 
Mifourl,  where  a  high  ridge  terminates  it,  and  forms 
the  eaftern  bank  of  the  Mifliffippi.  Tliis  interval 
Jand  is  level,  has  few  trees,  and  is  of  a  very  rich  foil, 
yielding  flirubs  and  moft  fragrant  flowers,  which, 
added  to  the  number  and  extent  of  meadows  and 
ponds  difperfcd  through  this  charming  valley,  ren- 
der it  exceedingly  beautiful  and  agreeable. 

**  In  this  vale  ftand  the  following  villages,  viz. 
Kafkafkias,  which,  as  already  mentioned,  is  five  miles 
and  a  half  up  a  river  of  the  fame  name,  running 
northerly  and  foutherly.  This  village  contains  80 
houfcs,  many  of  them  well  built — fcveral  of  ftone, 
with  gardens  and  large  lots  adjoining.  It  confifts  of 
•about  500  white  inhabitants,  and  between  four  and 
five  hundred  negroes.  The  former  have  large  flocks 
of  black  cattle,  fwine,  &c. 

"  Three  miles  northerly  of  Kafkafkias,  is  a  village 
of  Illinois  Indians  (of  the  Kafkaikias  tribe)  contain- 
ing about  210  perfons  and  60  warriors.  They  were 
formerly  brave  and  warlike,  but  are  degenerated  into 
a  drunken  and  debauched  tribe,  and  fo  indolent, 
as  fcarcely  to  procure  a  fufficicncy  of  fkins  and  furs 
to  barter  for  clothing. 

'*  Nine  miles  further  northward  than  the  lafl  men* 
tioned  village,  is  another,  called  La  Prairie  du  Ro- 
cher,  or  the  Rock  Meadows.  It  confifts  of  one  hun- 
dred white  inhabitants,  and  eighty  negroes. 

*'  Three  miles  northerly  of  this  place,  on  the 
banks  of  the  MiififTippi,  Itood  Fort-Chartres.  It 
was  abandoned  in  the  year  1772,  as  it  was  rendered 
\intenable  by  the  conftant  wafhings  of  the  River 
MifGffippi  in  high  floods. — The  village  of  Fort- 
Chartrei,  a  little  fouthward  of  the  fort,  contained  fo 
few  inhabitants  as  not  to  deferve  my  notice. 

**  One  mile   higher  up  the  MiiTifrippi  than  Foit- 

Chartres, 


APPENDIX.  .  iQ^ 

Chartres,  is  a  village  fettled  by  170  warriors  of  the 
Piorias  and  IVIitchigamias  (two  otder  tribes  of  the 
Illinois  Indians).  Th-^y  are  as  idle  and  debr.uched 
as  the  tribe  of  Kafkalkias  which  I  h-^ve  juft  dc- 
fcribed. 

"  Four  miles  higher  than  the  preceding  village, 
is  St.  Philip's.  It  was  formerly  inhabited  by  about 
a  dozen  families,  but  at  prefent  is  pofleffed  only  by 
two  or  three.  The  others  have  retired  to  the  weft- 
crn  fide  of  the  Miflillippi. 

''  Forty-five  miles  further  northwards  than  St. 
Philip's  (and  one  mile  up  a  fmall  river  on  the  fouth- 
crn  fide  of  it)  ftands  the  village  of  Cahokia.  It  has 
Co  houfes,  many  of  them  well  built,  and  300  inha- 
bitants, pofleffing  80  negroes,  and  large  ftocks  of 
black  cattle,  fwine,  Hcc. 

"  Four  miles  above  Cahokia,  on  the  weftern  or 
Spaniflifide  of  the  Miffiflippi,  flands  the  village  of 
St.  Louis,  on  a  high  piece  of  ground.  It  is  the 
molt  healthy  and  pleafurable  lituation  of  any  known 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  Here  the  Spanifh  com- 
mandant and  the  principal  Indian  traders  refide; 
who,  by  conciliating  the  afFedions  of  the  natives, 
have  drawn  all  the  Indian  trade  of  the  Mifouri, 
part  of  thatof  thcMifliflippi  (northwards)  and  of  the 
tribes  of  Indians  refiding  near  the  Ouifconfing  and 
Illinois  rivers,  to  this  village.  In  St.  Louis  are  120 
houfes,  moftly  built  of  flone.  They  are  large  and 
commodious.  This  village  has  800  inhabitants, 
chiefly  French; — fome  of  them  have  had  a  liberal 
education,  are  po|ite,  and  hofpi table.  They  have 
about  150  negroes,  and  large  ftocks  of  black  cat- 
tle, &c. 

**  Twelve  miles  below,  or  foutherly  of  Fort-Char- 
tres,  on  the  weftern  bank  of  the  Miffiflippi,  and 
nearly  oppolite  to  the  village  of  Kalkalki.is,  is  the- 
village  of  St.  Genevieve,  or  Milfire.  It  contains  up- 
wards of  100  houfes,  and  460  inhabitants,  bcfides 

negroes. 


i 

i 

1' 

.  \ 

ffl 

H 

i  -^tl 

1 

m 

m 


aoo 


APPENDIX. 


negroes.  Tliis  and  St.  Louis  arc  all  the  villages  that 
arc  upon  the  weftern  or  Spanifli  fide  of  tue  Mif- 
iiflippi. 

*'  Four  miles  below  St.  Genevieve,  (on  the  weft- 
ern bank  of  the  Mifliflippi,)  at  the  mouth  of  a  creek, 
is  a  hamlet,  called  the  Saline.  Here  all  the  fait  is 
made  which  is  ufed  in  the  Illinois  country,  from  a 
fait  fpring  that  is  at  this  place. 

"  In  the  feveral  villages  on  the  Mifliflippi,  which 
I  have  juft  defcribed,  tliere  were,  fo  long  ago  as  the 
year  1771,  twelve  hundred  and  fevcnty-three  fen- 
cible  men. 

"  The  ridge  which  forms  the  eaftern  bank  of  the 
Miflilfippi,  above  the  Milburi  river,  continues  north- 
erly to  the  Illinois  river,  and  then  dircds  its  courfe 
along  the  eaftern  fide  of  that  river  for  about  22a 
miles,  when  it  declines  in  gentle  (lopes,  and  ends  iu 
cxtenfive  rich  favannahs.  On  the  top  of  this  ridge, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  is  an  agreeable 
and  commanding  fituation  for  a  fort,  and  though 
the  ridge  is  high  and  fteep  (about  130  feet  high),  and 
rather  difficult  to  afcend,  yet  when  afcended,  it 
affords  a  moft  delightful  profpedl:. — The  Miffiifippi 
is  diftin<5lly  feen  from  its  fummit  for  more  than 
twenty  miles,  as  are  the  beautiful  meanderings  of 
the  Illinois  river  for  many  leagues; — next  a  level, 
fruitful  meadow  prefents  iifelf,  of  at  leaft  one  hun- 
dred rnilcs  in  circuit  on  the  weftern  fide  of  the  Mif- 
fillippi,  watered  by  feverul  lakes,  and  Ihaded  by 
fmall  groves  or  copies  of  trees,  fcattcrcd  in  different 
parts  of  it,  and  then  the  eye  with  rapture  furveys, 
as  well  the  high  lands  bordering  upon  the  river  Mi- 
fouri,  as  thofe  at  a  greater  diftance  up  the  Miffiffippi. 
In  fine,  this  charming  ridge  is  covered  with  excel- 
lent grais,  large  oak,  walnut-trees.  Sic.  and  at  the 
diftance  of  about  nine  miles  from  the  Miffiffippi,  up 
the  Illinois  river,  are  feen  many  large  favannahs,  or 


Hieadowsj  abounding  in  buftaloe,  deer,  &c. 


u 


In 


APPENDIX. 


leor 


is 
a 


**  In  afcending  the  Mllliflippi,  Cape  an  Gres  par- 
ticularly attracted  mv  attention,  h  is  about  ti;:lit 
leagues  above  the  Illinois  river,  on  the  eaflern  fule 
cf 'he  IMifliflippi,  and  continues  above  five  leagues 
en  that  river.  There  is  a  gradual  defccnt  back  to 
delighted  meadows,  and  to  beautiful  and  fertile  up- 
lands, watered  by  ieveral  rivulets,  which  fall  into 
the  Illinoisrivcr,  between  thirty  and  forty  miles  from 
its  entrance  into  the  MiirifTip[)i,  and  into  the  latter 
at  Cape  an  Gres.  The  diftance  from  the  J^Jilliiiippl 
to  the  River  Illinois  acrofsthe  country,  is  L-ifcned  or 


:h 


.f 


1^  Lii  iiic  wuumiyb  K)i  ijic  lormer 
river; — the  fmallel:  diftance  is  at  Cape  au  Gres,  and 
there  it  is  between  four  and  fivs  miles.  The  lands 
in  this  intermediate  fpacc  between  the  above  two 
rivers  are  rich,  almoft  beyond  parallel,  covered  with 
large  oaks,  walnut,  &:c.  and  not  a  Hone  is  to  be  feen 
except  upon  the  fides  of  the  river.  It  is  even  ac- 
knowledged by  the  Frencfi  inhabitants,  that  if  fet- 
tlements  were  only  begun  at  Cape  au  Gres,  thofe 
upon  the  Spanifh  fide  of  the  Mifiiflippi  would  be 
abandoned,  as  the  former  would  excite  a  conftant 
fucccffion  of  fettlers,  and  intercept  all  the  trade  of 
the  upper  jVIifiiilippi. 

"  The  Illinois  river  furnifnes  a  communication 
with  Lake  Michigan,  by  the  Chicago  river,  and  by 
two  portages  between  the  latter  and  the  Illinois  river; 
the  longeft  of  which  does  not  exceed  four  miles. 

*'  The  Illinois  country  is  in  general  of  a  fuperior 
foil  to  any  other  part  of  Nortu  America  that  I  have 
feen.  It  produces  fine  oak,  hickory,  cedar,  mul- 
berry-treei.,  &c.  fome  dying-  roots  and  medicinal 
plants; — hops  and  excellent  wild  grapes,  and  iu'the 
year  1769,  one  hundred  and  ten  hogilieads  of  well- 
tafled  and  (Irong  wine  were  made  by  the  French 
fettlers  from  thefe  grapes, — a  large  quantity  of  fugar 
is  alfo  annually  made  from  the  juice  of  the  maple- 
tree;  and  as  the  mulberry-trees  are  long  and  nume* 

rous^ 


!:ff 


li  i 


aoa 


APPENDIX. 


rous,  I  prefiime  the  making  of  filk  will  employ  tlii 
attention  nnd  induftrv  of  the  fcttlcrs,  when  the 
country  i§  more  fully  nihabited  than  it  is  at  prei'cnt, 
and  ei|)ecially  as  the  winters  are  nuicli  more  moile- 
rate,  and  favourable  for  the  brted  of  filk  worms, 
than  they  are  in  many  of  the  fca-co:»Il  provinces. — 
Indigo  may  iikewiie  be  ruccersfully  cuUivated  (but 
not  more  tlian  two  ciUtings  in  a  year);  wheat,  [xwj, 
and  Jntiian  corn  thrive  well,  as  does  every  fort  of 
grain  and  piille,  thnt  is  produced  in  any  of  the  old 
colonies.  Great  qnintities  of  tobacco  are  alfo  yearly 
raifed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Illinois,  both  for 
their  own  confumption,  and  that  of  the  Indians^ 
but  little  has  hitherto  been  exported  to  Europe. 
Hemp  grows  fpontaneoiidy,  ancl  is  of  a  good»tex- 
ture;  its  common  height  is  lo  feet,  and  its  thicknefs 
three  inches  (the  latter  reckoned  within  about  a  foot 
of  the  root),  and  with  little  labour  any  quantity 
may  be  cultivated.  Flax  feed  has  hitherto  been  only 
raifii^d  in  fmall  quantities.  There  has  however  been 
enough  produced  to  fliew  that  it  may  befown  to  the 
greateft  advantage.  Apples,  pears,  peaches,  and  all 
other  European  fruits,  fuccccd  admtrably.  Iro  i, 
copper,  and  lead  mines,  a-i  alfo  fait  fjjrings,  have 
been  difcovered  in  dilTerent  parts  of  this  territory. 
The  two  latter  are  worked  on  tiie  Spai^ifh  fide  of  the 
IVIiflillippi,  with  confiderable  advantage  to  their 
owner?.  There  is  plenty  of  filh  in  the  rivers,  par- 
ticularly cat,  carp,  and  perch,  of  an  uncommon 
Hze. — Savannahs,  or  natural  meadows,  are  both  nu- 
merous and  extenfive;  yielding  excellent  grafs,  and 
feeding  great  herds  of  butfaloe,  deer,  oic— Ducks, 
teal,  gee{e,  fwans,  cranes,  pelicans,  turkeys,  phea- 
fants,  partridges,  &c.  fuch  as  are  ken  in  the  fea- 
coaft ''colonics,  are  in  the  grentert  variety  and  abun- 
dance.— In  flicrt,  every  thing  that  areafonable  mind 
can  dellre  is  to  be  found,  or  may,  with  little  pains, 
be  p reduced  here. 

**  Niagara 


"  Njugnra  fort  is  a  moft  important  poll.  It  fe- 
cures  a  greater  lunnbcrof  communications  throiigU 
r\  larger  country  than  probably  nny  otlicr  pafs  in  in- 
terior America; — it  Hands  at  tlie  entrnnce  of  a  ftrair, 
by  which  lake  Ontario  iii  joined  to  lake  Erif?,  and 
the  latt'jr  is  connet'^ed  with  die  three  great  lakes, 
H'.iron,  Michcgan,  and  Superior.  About  nine  miles 
above  Fort  Niagara  the  carrying  place  begins.  It  is 
occaiioned  by  the  ft  upend'  .6  cataraft  of  that  name. 
The  quantity  of  water  which  tumbles  over  this  fall  is 
unparalleled  in  America;  its  heiohth  is  not  Icfsthan 
137  feet.  This  fiill  woidd  interruj):  the  communi- 
cation between  the  lakes  Onta'io  and  Krie,  if  a  road 
was  not  made  up  the  hilly  country  that  borders  upon 
the  ftrait.  This  road  extentls  to  a  fmall  poft  eigh- 
teen miles  from  Fort  Niagara.  Ileie  the  traveller 
embarks  in  a  batteau  oi  canoe,  and  proceeds  eigh- 
teen miles  to  a  fmall  fort  at  Lake  Erie.  It  may  be 
proper  alfo  to  add,  that  it  the  end  of  the  fiift  two 
miles,  in  the  iaft-metuioned  diftnnce  of  18  miles, 
the  flrcani  of  the  river  is  divided  by  a  large  iilmd, 
above  nine  miles  in  length  ;  and  at  the  u})per  end  of 
it,  about  a  mile  from  Lake  Erie,  arc  three  or  four 
iflands,  not  far  from  each  other; — thefe  iH.uids,  by 
interrupting  and  confining  the  waters  difcharged 
from  the  lake,  greatly  increafe  the  rapidity  of  the 
ilream ;  which  indetd  is  fo  violent,  that  the  ftiffeft 
gale  is  fcarcely  fufticient  to  enable  a  large  veflel  to 
item  it;  but  it  is  fuccefsfully refilled  in  fmall  battcaux 
or  canoes,  that  are  rowed  near  the  fliore. 

**  Lake  Erie  is  about  225  miles  in  length,  and 
upon  a  medium  about  40  miles  in  breadth.  It  af- 
fords a  good  navigation  for  fliippingof  any  burthen. 
The  coaiv,  on  both  iides  of  the  lake,  is  generally  fa- 
vourable for  the  paiTage  of  batteanx  and  canoes.  I;s 
banks  in  many  places  have  a  flat  fandy  fliore,  parti- 
cularly to  the  cadward  of  the  peninfula  called  Lojjg- 
J'oint,  which  extends  into  the  lake,  in  a  fouth-caii- 

era 


,  1 


1 1 


•1. 


S04  APPENDIX^ 

ern  dirc£llon,  for  upwards  of  i8  miles,  and  is  more 
than  five  miles  wide  in  the  broadcft  part;  but  the 
ifthumus,  by  which  itjoins  the  continent,  is  fcarcely 
two  hundred  yards  wide.  The  peninfula  is  com- 
pofed  of  fand,  and  is  very  convenient  to  haul  boats 
out  of  the  furf  upon  (as  is  almofl:  every  other  part 
of  the  fhore)  when  the  lake  is  too  rough  for  rowing 
or  failing;  yet  there  arefome  places  where,  in  boifter- 
ous  weather,  (on  account  of  their  great  perpendicu- 
lar height,)  it  would  be  dangerous  to  approach,  and 
jmpoflible  to  land.  Moll  of  thefe  places  are  marked 
in  my  map  with  the  letter  X. 

**  Lake  Erie  has  a  great  variety  of  fine  fifti,  fuch 
as  ftiirgeon,  ed,  white  fifh,  trout,  perch,  &c. 

'•  The  couistry,  northward  of  this  lake,  is  in  many 
parts  fwelled  with  moderate  hills,  but  no  high  moun- 
tains. The  climate  is  temperate,  and  the  air  health- 
ful. The  lands  are  well  timbered  (but  not  generally 
fo  rich  as  thofe  upon  the  fouthrrn  fide  of  the  lake), 
nnd  for  a  ccnfiderable  difl:ance  from  it,  and  for  fe- 
veral  miles  eaftward  of  Cayahoga  river,  they  appear 
quite  level  and  extremely  fertile;  and  except  where 
cxtenfive  favannahs,  or  natural  meadows  intervene, 
are  covered  with  large  oaks,  walnut,  afli,  hickory, 
mulberry,  faflafras,  &c.  &c.  and  produce  a  great  va- 
riety of  ihrubs  and  medicinal  roots. — Here  alfo  is 
great  plenty  of  bufFaIoe,deer,  turkies,  partridges,  &c. 

*'  Fort  Detroit  is  of  an  oblong  figure,  built  with 
flockades,  and  advantageoufiy  fitiiated,  with  one 
entire  fide  commanding  the  river,  called  Detroit. 
This  fort  is  near  a  mile  in  circumference,  and  en- 
clofes  about  one  hundred  lioufes,  built  in  a  regular 
manner,  with  parallel  ftrcets,  crotiing  each  other  at 
right  angles.  Its  fituation  is  delightful,  and  in  the 
centre  of  a  pleafant,  fruitru!  country. 

*'  The  ftrait  St.  Clair  (commonly  called  the  De- 
troit river)  is  at  its  entrance  more  than  three  miles 
wide,  but  in  afcending  it,  its  width  perceptibly  di- 

miniihes, 


fo 

th 


APPENDIX. 


205 


e 
te 


ts 
rt 


u- 
id 


rninirncs  ff>  that  oppofite  to  the  fort  (which  is  iH 
miles  from  Lake  Erie)  it  docs  not  cjvceed  half  a  milt? 
ill  width.  From  thence  to  Lake  St.  Ckiir  it  widens  to 
more  than  a  mile.  The  channel  of  tlic  Itrait  is  gentle 
und  wide,  and  deep  enough  for  f}ii])ping  of  great 
burden,  although  it  is  incommoded  by  ieveral  iflandfr-, 
one  of  which  is  nriore  than  fcven  miles  in  leniith. 
Thcfe  iflandsare  of  a  fertile  foil,  and  from  their  fitua' 
tion  afford  a  very  agj-c'eablc  appearance.  For  ei;;ht 
miles  l)elow,  and  the  fame  diihuice  above  Ff^rt  Dc- 
rroit,  on  both  Hdcs  of  the  river,  the  country  is  divided 
into  regular  and  well-cultivated  plantations,  and  from 
the  contiguity  of  the  farmers'  houfes  to  eacli  other, 
they  appear  as  two  long  extended  villages.  The  in- 
Jiabitants,  who  are  moilly  French,  are  rbout  2000  in 
number,  500  of  whom  are  as  good  markfinen,  and 
as  well  accullomed  to  the  woods,  as  the  Indian  na- 
tives themfelves.  They  raife  large*  flocks  of  black 
'Cattle,  and  great  quantities  of  corii,  which  tiiey  grind 
by  wind-mills  and  manufa6ture  into  excellent  flour. 
The  chief  trade  of  Detroit  confiils  in  a  barter  of 
coarfe  European  goods  with  the  natives  for  furs,  deer 
ikins,  tallow,  &c.  &c. 

*'  The  rout  from  Lake  St.  Clair  to  Lake  Huron  is 
lip  a  flrait  or  river,  about  400  yards  wide.  This  river 
derives  itfelf  from  Lake  Huron, and  at  the  diftancc  of 
33  miles  lofes  itfelf  in  Lake  St.  Clair.  It  is  in  general 
rapid,  but  particularly  fo  near  itsfource:  its  channel, 
and  r.lfo  that  of  Lake  St.  Clair,  are  fufficicntly  deep  for 
fliipping  of  a  very  confiderable  burthen.  This  ftrait 
has  fcvcral  mouths,  and  the  lands  lying  between  them 
are  fine  meadows.  The  country  on  both  fides  of  it, 
for  15  miles,  has  a  very  level  appearance,  but  from 
thence  to  Lake  Huron  it  is  in  many  places  broken, 
and  covered  witli  white  pines,  ouks,  maple,  birch, 
and  beech." 


% 


ill 


f 


i' 


ri-  I 


TJlCU^Jlff 


20^ 


API»ENDIX. 


Thoughts  m  ihe  Duration  of  the  AmeriianCommon'wealth 


T^ 


HERE  is  a  greater  probability  that  the  duration 
of  the  American  commonwealth  will  be  longer  than 
any  empire  that  has  hitherto  exifted.  For  it  is  a  triitli, 
univerfally  admitted,  that  all  the  advantages  which 
ever  attended  any  of  the  monarchies  in  the  old  world, 
all  -center  in  the  new,  together  with  ma^ny  others 
which  they  never  enjoy.  The  four  great  empires, 
and  the  dominions  of  Chademaign  and  the  Turks, 
«1I  rofe  by  conquefts-— none  by  the  arts  of  peace.  On 
the  contrary,  the  territory  oi  the  United  States  has 
been  planted  and  reared  by  a  union  of  liberty,  good 
conduct,  and  all  the  comforts  of  domeftic  virtue. 

All  the  greater  monarchies  were  formed  by  the 
conqueft  of  kingdoms,  different  io  arts,  manners, 
language,  temper,  or  religion,  from  the  conquerors; 
io  that  the  union,  though  in  fome  cafes  very  ftrong, 
was  never  the  real  and  intimate  connexion  of  the 
fame  people;  and  this  circumftance  principally  acce^. 
lerated  their  ruin,  and  was  abfolutely  the  caufe  of  it 
in  fome.  This  will  be  very  different  in  the  Ameri^ 
«ans.  They  will,  in  their  greateft  extent  and  popu^- 
lat^on,  be  one  and  the  fame  people^^the  fame  in  lan- 
guage, religion,  laws,  manners,  tempers  and  purfuits; 
for  the  fmall  variation  in  fome  diflfi6ls,  owing  to  the 
icttlement  of  Germans,  is  an  atecption  fo  \try  flight, 
that  in  a  few  ages  it  will  be  u^nown. 

The  Affyrian  and  Roman  empires  were  of  very 
flow  growth,  and  therefore  lafted  {he  longeft;  but  fliU 
their  increafe  was  by  conqueft,  and  the  union  of  dif- 
fonant  parts.  The  Perfian  and  Macedonian  monar^ 
chies  were  foon  founded  and  prefently  overturned; 
the  former  not  lafting  fo  long  as\he  Affyrian,  nor  a 
fixth  of  the  duration  of  the  Roman;  and  as  to  the 
Macedonian,  it  lafted  but  fix  years.    This  a4vantagc; 

0^ 


> 


APPENDIX.  i6j 

6t  a  flow  growth  is  flrong  in  favour  of  the  Ameri- 
cans; the  wontlerful  increafe  of  their  numbers  is  the 
ilatural  etfe£t  of  plenty  of  land,  a  good  climate,  and 
a  mild  and  beneficent  govermnent,  in  which  cor- 
rupticn  and  tyranny  are  wholly  unknown.  Some 
centuries  are  already  pad  fince  their  firfl  fettlement, 
and  many  more  will  pafs  before  their  power  appears 
in  its  full  fplcndour;  but  the  quicknefs  of  a  growth 
that  is  entirely  natural  will  carry  with  it  no  marks  of 
decay,  bein^  entirely  different  from  monarchies  U')\\  nd  - 
cd  by  force  of  aruis.  The  Roman  empire  perilhed 
by  the  himds  of  northern  barbarians,  wh.omthe  maf- 
ters  of  the  world  difdained  to  conquer;  it  will  not  be 
io  with  the  Americans;  they  fpread  gradually  over 
the  whole  continent,  infomuch  that  two  hundred 
years  hence  there  probably  will  be  nobody  but  them- 
felves  in  the  whole  northern  continent:  from  whence 
therefore  fhould  their  Goths  and  Vandals  come?  Nor 
can  they  ever  have  any  thing  to  fear  from  the  fouth; 
firft,  becaufe  that  country  will  never  be  populous, 
owing  to  the  pofleflion  of  mines:  fecondly,  there 
are  feveral  nations  and  languages  planted  and  re- 
maining in  it:  thirdly,  the  mod  confiderable  part  of 
it  lies  in  the  torrid  zone;  a  region  that  never  yet  feni 
forth  nations  of  conquerors. 

In  extent  the  habitable  parts  of  North-America 
exceed  that  of  any  of  the  fo\ir  empires,  and  confe- 
quently  can  feed  and  maintain  a  people  much  more 
numerous  than  the  Af^^'rians  or  the  Romans.  The 
fituation  of  the  region  is  fo  advantageous  that  it 
leaves  notiiing  to  be  wifiied  for;  it  can  have  no 
neighbours  from  whom  there  is  a  pofiibility  of  attack 
or  moleftation;  it  will  pollefi  all  the  folid  advantages 
of  theChinefc  empire,  without  the  f^lal  neighbour- 
hood ot  the  Tartais. 

It  will  have  further  the  fingiijnr  felicity  of  all  the 
advantages  of  an  ifland,  that  is,  a  freedom  from  the 
attacks  of  others,  and  too  many  diliiculties,  with 

T  a  t®o 


I 


M} 
'til  ' 

IJ 


m 


'i' 


208 


APPENDIX. 


too  great  a  ciirtance,  to  engage  in*  enterprifcs  that 
heretofore  proved  the  ruin  of  other  inonarchies. 

The  foil,  the  climate,  prodr.(5^ion,  and  face  of  the 
continent,  are  formed  by  nature  for  a  great,  indepen- 
jdent,  and  permanent  government:  fill  it  with  people 
who  will  of  themfclves,  of  coiirfe,  poflefs  all  forts  of 
manufactures,  and  you  will  find  it  yielding  every 
HeceiTary  and  convenience  of  life.    Such  a  vail:  tra<!;l 
of  country,  poiTelhng  fuch  fmgular  advantages,  be- 
coming inhabited  by  one  people,  fpeaking  the  fame 
language,  profelfing  the  fame  religion,  and   having; 
the  fame  manners;  attaining  a    population  equal  to 
that  of  the  gieatefl  empire;  fprung  from  an  a«5live 
and   indu{\riou5   nation,  who   have  transfufed  into 
^hem  iheir  own  induftry  and  fpirit,  and  feen  thcin 
worthy  of  their  oiigiaal;  inhabiting  a  foil  not  dan- 
geroiilly  fertile,  nor  a  clime  generally  conducive  to 
(fT^^minacy ;  accullomed  to  commerce:  fuch  a  peo- 
ple ruifl  found  a  commjon wealth  as  indiiTolubie  a* 
hun:ianity  will  allow.     Suffice  it  for  England,  that 
ilic  will  h  ive  been  the  origin  of  a  commonwealth, 
t^reaterand  more  durable  thannnv  former  monarchy; 
rhatherlanguagcandher  inanners  will  floinifli among 
a  people  who  will  one  day  become  a  fplendid  fpec- 
tacle  in  r!ie  vail  eve  of  the  univerfe.    This  flatterinij 
idea  of  immorrality  no  otlicr  nation  can  hope  to  at- 
tain ^ 

And  here  let  me  make  ?.n  obfcrvation  that  fliculd 
aniiLutc  the  authors  in  the  EngllOi  language  with  an 
ardour  that  cannot  be  infufed  into  thofe  of  any  other 
natiorv,  it  is  the  pltafing  ulea  of  living  among  fo 
j;reat  a  people,  ti^rough  almoft  a  perpetuity  of  fame, 
and  under  aimofl  an  impofhbility  of  becoming,  like 
the  Greek  and  Latin  tongues,  dead;  known  only  by 
the  learned. — Incrcafing  time  will  bring  increafing 
readers,  until  tlieir  names  become  repeated  with 
pieafur^-'  by  above  an  hundred  millions  of  people  1 

4Jlate 


\ 


APPENDIX. 


209 


AJiale  of  the  Commercial  Intercowfe  ieiiveen  the  Uniied 
States  of  America  and  Foreign  Nations.  Jfl'ttten  in 
the  Month  of  June^  1792.  By  Thomas  Jej^erjon^  Efii\ 
Secretary  of  State  to  the  faid  United  States, 

The  countries  with  which  the  United  States  havs 
had  their  chief  commercial  intercourfe,  are  Spain, 
Portugal,  France,  Great-Britain,  tiie  United  Ne- 
therlands, Denmark,  and  Sweden,  and  ihcir  Ame- 
rican pofleflions;  and  the  articlrs  of  export  which 
conftitute  the  bafis  of  that  commerce,  with  their  re- 
fpeflive  amounts,  are — 
Bread  (luff,  that  is  to  fay,  bread-grains, 

meals,  and  bread,  to  the  annual  a-        Dols. 

mount  of 7,649,887 

Tobacco 4,349,567 

Rice     -     -     -^- 1,753,796 

Wood    -*--------     1,263,534 

Salted  fifli    --«------        941,696 

Pot  and  pearl  aili    •    -     -     *     -     -     -        839,033 
Salted  meats     ----«---        599,130 

Indigo 5377379 

Horfes  and  mules     -     -     -     -     -     -        339)753 

Whale  oil «     -        252,591 

Flax  feed ---        236,072^ 

Tar,  pitch,  and  turpentine    -     -     -     -       ^17,177 

Live  provifions     -     -     -     -     -     -     -        i37j743 

Ships 

Foreign  goods      -     ------       620,274 

To  defcend  to  ardcles  of  fmaller  value  than  thcfe, 
would  lead  into  a  iriinutenefs  of  detail  neither  ne- 
ceflary  nor  ufeful  to  the  prefent  objedl. 

The  proportions  of  our  exports,  which  go  to  the 
nations,  before  mentioned,  and  to  their  dominions,, 
refpetitively,  arc  as  follows: 


I 


«.■ 


I 


T3 


To 


ii  ^^ 


2IQ  APPENlXiX. 

DoI«. 

To  Spain  and  its  dominions       -     -     -  2,005,907 

Portugal  and  its  dominions         -     -     -  1,283,462 

l^Vance  and  its  dominions            ...  4,690,735 

Great-Britain  and  its  dominions      -     -  9,363,416- 

The  U.Netherlands  and  their  dominions  1,963,88a 

Denmark  and  its  dominions      •     -     -  224,415 

Sweden  and  its  dominions         -     -     -  47>249 

Our  Ifjiports  from  the  fume  countries  are — 

Spain  and  its  dominions  ^  -  _  -  335jI'o 
Portugal  and  its  dominions  -  -  -  *  595*7^3 
France  and  its  dominions  -  -  -  -  2,068,348 
Great-Britain  and  its  dominions  -  -  15,285,428 
United  Netherlands  and  their  domimaus  1,172,69a. 
Denmark  and  its  dominions  -  -  -  -  351,394 
Sweden  and  its  dominions       -     -     -     -       14? 32 5 

Thefe  imports  confift  moflly  of  anicies  on  which 
induUry  has  been  exhaufted. 

Our  navigation,   depending  on  the  fame   com- 
xnerce,  will  appear  by  the   following  ftatement  of 
the  tonnage  of  our  own  vefTels,  entering  into  our 
ports,    from  thofe   feyeral  nations   and   their   pof- 
feffions,  in  one  year,  that  is  to  fay,  from  October, 
J 789,  to  September,  1790,  inclusive,  as  follows: 

Tons. 
Spain  -•.------       19,69s; 

Portugal         ...,.<-«--       23,570 

France  -- 116,410 

Great- Britain 435580 

Unhed  Netherlands       ----,..       58,858 
Denmark  -     -     •    -     -     -     -       i4>655 

Sweden  ^    .     ~     -     -     -     -  7  59 

Of  our  commercial  obje<fls,  Spain  receives  fa- 
vourably our  bread  fluff,  falted  filh,  wood,  Ihips, 
tar,  pitch,  and  turpentine.  On  our  meals,  how- 
ever, as  weh  as  on  thofe  of  other  foreign  countries, 
whea  I'e-exgorted  to  their  colonies,  they  have  lately 

iinpofed. 


i 


ir^k 


APPENDIX. 


air 


rmpofed  duties  of  from  half  a  dollar  to  two  dollar* 
the  barrel,  the  duties  being  fo  proportioned  to  the 
current  price  of  their  own  flour,  as  that  Loth  toge- 
ther are  to  make  the  conltaat  fum  of  nine  dollars 
per  barrel. 

They  do  not  difcourage  our  rice,  pot  and  pearl 
afii,  faked  provifions,  or  whale  oil :  but  thefe  articles 
being  in  fmall  demand  at  their  markets,  are  carried 
thitiier  but  in  a  fmall  degree.  Their  demand  for 
rice,  however,  is  increafing.  Neither  tobacco  nor 
indigo  are  received  there.  Our  commerce  is  per- 
mitted with  their  Canary  Iflands,  under  the  fame 
conditions. 

Themfelves  and  their  colonies  are  the  aftual  coii» 
fumers  of  what  they  receive  from  us. 

Our  navigation  is  free  with  the  kingdom  of  Spain; 
foreign  goods  being  received  there  in  our  {hips,  oa 
the  fame  conditions  as  if  carried  in  their  own,  or  ia 
the  vefiels  of  the  country  of  which  fuch  goods  are 
the  manufadure  or  produce. 

Portugal  receives  favourably  our  grain  and  bread, 
falted  fifli  and  other  falted  provifions,  wood,  tar, 
pitch,  and  turpentine. 

For  flax-feed,  pot  and  pearl  afli,  though  not  diC- 
couraged,  there  is  little  demand. 

Our  (hips  pay  20  per  cent,  on  being  fold  to  their 
fubje£ls,  and  are  then  free  bottoms. 

Foreign  goods,  (except  thofe  of  the  Eaft-Indies) 
are  received  on  the  fame  footing  in  our  vefiels  as  in 
their  own,  or  any  others;  that  is  to  iliy,  on  general 
duties  of  from  twenty  to  twenty-eight  per  cent,  and 
confequently  our  navigation  unobftru<£led  by  them. 
Tobacco,  rice,  and  nfeals,  ars  prohibited. 

Themfelves  and  their  colonies  confumc  what  they 
receive  from  us. 

Thefe  regulations  extend  to  the  Azores,  Madeira,, 
and  the  Cape  de  Verd  Iflands,  except  that  in  thefe 
meals  and  rice  are  received  freely. 

Francis 


fi. 


21^ 


APPENWIX, 


Frnnce  receives  favourably  our  bread  fluff,  rice, 
woo  J,  pot  and  pearl  alhci;. 

A  duty  of  five  foiis  the  kenta!,  or  nearly  four 
and  a  half  cents,  is  paid  on  our  tar,  pitch,  and  tur- 
pentine. Our  whale  oil  pays  fix  livrcs  the  kental, 
and  are  the  only  foreign  whale  oils  admitted.  Our 
indigo  pays  five  livres  on  the  Rental;  their  own,  two 
and  an  half:  but  a  difference  of  quality,  ftill  more 
than  a  difference  of  duty,  prevents  its  feeking  that 
market. 

Salted  beef  is  received  freely  for  re-exportation, 
but  if  for  home  confurnption,  it  pays  five  livres  tlie 
kental.  Other  falted  provifions  pay  that  duty  in  all 
cafes,  and  falted  fidi  is  made  lately  to  pay  tht  prohi- 
bitory one  of  twentv  livres  in  the  kental. 

Our  lliips  are  free  to  carry  thither  all  foreign  good« 
which  may  be  carried  in  their  own  or  any  other 
veflels,  except  tobaccoes  not  of  our  oVvn  growth; 
and  they  participate  with  their's  the  exclufive  car- 
riage of  our  whale  oils  and  tobaccoes. 

During  their  former  government,  our  tobacco  wa's 
under  a  monopoly,  but  paid  no  duties ;  and  our  lliips 
were  freely  fold  in  their  ports,  and  converted  into 
national  bottoms.  The  firfl  National  Affembly 
took  from  our  fhips  this  privilef^e :  they  emancipated 
tobacco  from  its  monopoly,  but  fubjedled  it  to  du- 
ties of  eighteen  livres  fifteen  fous  the  kental,  curried 
in  their  own  vefiels,  and  twenty-five  livres  carried  in 
ours,  a  difference  more  than  equal  to  the  freight  of 
the  article. 

Thev  and  their  colonies  confame  what  they  re- 
ceive from  us. 

Great-Britain  receives  our  })ot  and  pearl  afties 
free.,  while  thofe  of  other  nations  pay  a  diUy  of  two 
fliiUings  and  three  pence  the  kental.  There  is  an* 
equal  diftind^ion  in  favour  of  our  bar  iron,  of  which 
article,  however,  we  do  not  produce  enough  for  our 
own  ufe.     Woods  are  free  from  us,  whiift  they  pay 

iome 


*» 


APFENDIX.  2TJJ- 

fome  fmall  duty  from  other  countries.  Ojr  tar  and 
pitch  pay  iid.  fterliiv^  the  barrel;  from  other  alien 
countries  they  pay  about  a  penny  and  a  third  more. 

Our  tobacco,  for  their  ou-n  confumption,  pavs 
IS.  3d.  (lerli'ng  the  pound,  cullom  and  excife,  bc- 
Trdcs  heavy  expences  oFcolledion.  And  rice,  in  the 
Tame  cafe,  pays  7s.  4d.  licrling  tlie  hundred  weight; 
which  renderincf  it  too  dear  as  an  article  of  comtno;i 
iood,  it  is  coniequentiy  uicd  in  very  imall  quantity. 

Our  l.tlted  fiib,  and  other  Talced  prcvifions,  ex- 
cept bacon,  are  prohibiicd.  Bacon  and  whale  oil 
are  under  prohibitory  duties ;  fo  areour  grains,  meals, 
and  bread,  as  to  internal  confumption,  unlefs  in 
times  of  fuch  fcarcity  as  may  raile  t!ie  price  of 
wheat  to  50s.  fierling  the  quarter,  and  ether  grains 
and  meals  in  proportion. 

Cur  lliips,  though  purchafed  and  navigated  by 
their  own  fubjec^s,  are  not  permitted  to  be  ufed, 
even  in  their  trade  with  us. 

While  the  vefTels  of  other  nations  are  fecured  by 
{landing  laws,  which  cannot  be  altered  but  by  the 
concurrent  will  of  the  three  branches  of  the  Eritifii 
legiflature,  in  carrying  thither  any  produce  or  ma- 
nufa£lure  of  the  country  to  wiiich  ihev  belonj^, 
which  may  be  lawfully  carried  in  any  veflels,  ourb, 
with  the  fame  prohibi.ion  of  wliiW  is  foreign,  are 
further  prohibited  by  a  itandinglaw  (12  Car.  II.  28, 
§  3)  from  carrying  thither  all  and  any  of  our  own 
domeft'C  produAions  and  matmfactures.  A  fuLfe- 
quent  nS:,  indeed,  authorifed  rheir  executive  to  per- 
mit the  carriage  of  our  own  prod '.•.*^l ions  in  our  own 
bottoms,  at  its  fole  difcretion ;  and  the  permiilioa 
has  been  given  from  year  to  ye^r  by  proclamation, 
but  fubje6t  every  moment  to  be  withdrawn  on  that 
fingle  will,  in  which  event  our  velfels  having  any 
thing  on  board,  ftand  interdi'ffed  from  the  entry  of 
all  Bririfh  ports.  The  difadvantage  of  a  tenure 
which  may  be  lu  fuddenly  difcontinued  was  experi- 
enced 


pi 


enccd  by  ovir  merchants  on  a  late  occadon,  wfien'  aiV 
official  notihcntion  that  this  law  would  be  llri(5^1y 
enforced,  gave  them  jiift  apprelienfions  for  the  fate 
of  their  veiFels  and  cargoes  difpatched  or  diftined  to- 
the  ports  of  Great-Britain.  The  minifter  of  tint 
court,  indeed,  frankly  exprefled  his  perfonal  con- 
viction that  the  words  of  tlie  order  went  farther  than 
was  intended,  and  fo  he  afterwards  officially  inform- 
ed us;  but  the  cmbarraffinents  of  tlie  moment  were 
reahand  great,  and  the  pollibility  of  their  renewal 
lays  our  commerce  to  that  country  under  the  i'ame 
fpeciesof  difcouragementastoother  countries  where 
it  is  regulated  by  a  fingle  legiflator;  and  the  diliinc- 
tion  is  too  remarkable  not  to  be  noticed,  that  our 
navigation  is  exchided  from  the  fecurity  of  fixed 
]avvs,  while  that  fecurity  is  given  to  the  navigaticn 
of  others. 

Our  veflels  pay  their  ports  is.  gd.  fterling  per  ton, 
light  and  trinity  dues,  more  than  is  paid  by  Britifti 
lliips,  except  in  the  port  of  London^  where  they 
pay  the  fame  as  Britifljv 

The  greater  part  of  what  tliey  receive  from  us  is 
re-exported  to  other  countries,  under  the  ufelcis 
charges  of  an  intermediate  depofit  and  double  voy- 
age. From  tnbles  publiflied  in  England,  and  com- 
pofed,  as  is  fgiid,  from  the  books  of  their  cuftom- 
houfcs,  it  appears  that  of  the  indigo  imported  there 
in  the  years  1773 — 4 — fj,  one  third  was  re-exported^ 
and  from  a  document  of  authority,  we  learn  that  of 
the  rice  and  tobacco  imported  there  bclV)re  the  war, 
four-fifths  were  re-exported.  We  a^e  r.Hured,  in- 
deed, that  the  q\iantities  fcnt  thither  for  re-exporta- 
tion lince  the  war,  are  tonfiderably  dimlniflied,  yet 
lefs  fo  than  reafon  and  national  intereft  would  dic- 
tate. The  vvliole  of  our  grain  is  re-exported  when 
wheat  is  below  50s.  the  quarter,  and  other  grains  in 
propoi-iion. 

Ti^e  United  Netherlands  prohibit  our  pickled  beef 

and 


li 


A?PENDIX.  215 

Riv5  pork,  meals  and  brtad  of  all  fort?,  and  lay  a 
proliibilory  duty  on  fpirits  iHliilkd  from  grain. 

Ad  other  of  our  prodm^ioiis  are  received  on  va- 
ried duties,  which  fiiay  be  reckoned  on  a  medium  at 
about  three  |)er  cent. 

They  confume  but  a  fmall  proportion  of  what 
they  receive;  the  rt-fiduc  is  partly  forvvauied  for  con- 
fumption  in  the  inland  parts  of  Europe,  and  j  arr!/ 
re-fhipped  to  other  nlaritime  countries.  On  the 
latter  i^raportion  they  intercept  between  us  and  the 
confumer  fo  much  of  the  value  as  is  abforbcd  by  the 
charges  uttendinj^  an  intermediate  depofit. 

Foreign  goods,  except  fome  Eaft-Indl^  articles, 
are  received  in  veiTels  of  any  nation. 

Our  fliips  may  be  fold  and  naturalized  there  with 
exceptions  of  one  or  two  privileges,  which  fome 
what  IclTcii  their  value. 

Denmark  layr,  confiderable  duties  on  our  tobacco 
an^d  rice  carried  in  tlieir  own  veiTels,  and  half  as 
much  more  if  carried  in  ours;  but  the  exftft  amount 
of  thefe  duties  is  not  perfeftly  known  here.  They 
lay  fuch  as  amount  to  prohibifions  on  our  indigo 
and  corn. 

Sweden  receives  favourably  our  grains  and  meals, 
•falted  provifions,  indigo,  and  whcUe  oil. 

They  fubje.<ft  our  rice  to  duties  of  iixtren  mills 
the  pound  weight  carried  in  their  own  veflels,  and 
of  forty  percent,  additional  on  that,  or  22,4romills, 
carried  in  ours  or  any  others.  Being  thus  rendered 
too  dear  as  an  article  of  common  food,  little  of  it  is 
confumed  with  them.  They  confume  more  of  our 
tobaccoes,  which  they  take  circuitoufly  through 
Great-Britain,  levying  heavy  duties  on  them  alfo; 
their  duties  of  entry,  town  duties,  and  excife,  being 
4  dols.  34  cents,  the  hundred  weight,  if  carried  in 
their  own  veflels,  and  of  40  per  cent,  on  that  addi- 
iional,  if  carried  in  our  own  or  any  other  veflels. 

They  prohibit  altogether  our  bre-d,  iifh,  pot  and 

peari 


ai6  ArrENDix. 

pearl  allies,  fiax-fted,  tar,  pitch  and  turpentine, 
wood  (except  oak  timber  and  mallb),  and  all  lorcign 
nianufadtiircs. 

Under  fo  many  rci}ri«^Ions  an*!  prohibition:-,  o\ir 
navigation  with  tJicm  is  reduced  ahiioft  to  nothing. 

With  our  neighbours,  an  order  of  things  much 
harder  prcients  itf'clf. 

S{>ain  and  Portu^;al  refafc  to  thofe  parts  of  Ame- 
rica which  they  j^ovcrn,  all  dire<^  intercourfc  witii 
any  people  but  themfclves.  The  commodities  in 
mutual  demand  between  them  and  their  neighbours 
muft  be  carried  to  be  exchanged  in  fome  port  of  the 
dominant  country,  and  the  tranfportation  between 
that  and  the  fubjc(^l  ftatc  mufl  be  in  a  domeftic 
bottom. 

France,  by  a  ftandln,^  law,  permits  her  Weft- 
India  polleliion:>  to  receive  (hrertly  our  vegetables, 
live  provihons,  horfcs,  wood,  tar,  pitch  and  turpen- 
tine, rice  and  maize,  and  prohibits  our  other  bread 
ftufF;  but  a  fufpenfion  of  this  prohibition  having 
been  left  to  the  colonial  legillatures  in  times  of  fcar- 
tity,  it  was  formerly  fuip-ended  occafionally,  but 
Jatterly  without  interruption. 

Our  frefli  and  falted  provifions  (except  pork)  are 
received  in  their  iflands  under  a  duty  of  threecolonial 
livres  *:he  kcntal,  and  our  veflels  are  as  free  as  their 
own  to  carry  our  commodities'thither,  and  to  bring 
iiwav  rum  and  molalFcs. 

Great-Britain  admits  in  her  iflands  our  vegetables, 
live  provifions,  horfes,  wood,  tar,  pitch  and  turpen- 
tine, rice  and  bread  ftufT,  by  a  proclamation  of  her 
executive,  limited  always  to  the  term  of  a  year. 
She  prohibits  our  falted  provifions:  flie  does  not 
pemiit  our  veflels  to  carry  thither  our  own  produce. 
Her  veflels  alone  may  take  it  from  us,  and  bring  in 
exchange,  rum,  molaflTcs,  fugar,  coffee,  cocoa  nuts, 
ginger,  and  pimento.  There  are,  indeed,  fome 
freedoms  in  the  illand  of  Dominica,  but  under  fuch 

circumftances 


ciicumflances  ns  to  be  little  ufed  by  \is.  In  the 
Britifti  continental  colonies,  and  in  Newfoundland, 
til  our  produ(5tions  are  prohibited,  and  our  veflels 
forbidden  to  enter  their  ports;  their  governors  how* 
ever,  in  times  of  diftrcfs,  have  power  to  permit  a 
temporary  importation  of  certain  articles  in  their 
own  bottoms,  but  not  in  ours. 

Our  citizens  cannot  refide  as  merchants  orfa(?lor« 
/Tvithin  any  of  the  Britifli  plantations,  this  being  e»- 
jirefsly  prohibited  by  the  lame  llatute  of  i  jJJar.  II, 
C.  i8.  commonly  called  the  Navigation  A^. 

In  the  Danifti  American  poilcffions,  a  duty  of 
Sve  per  cent,  is  levied  on  our  corn,  corn-meal, :  ice, 
tobacco,  wood,  laited  fifli,  indigo,  horfes,  mules, 
and  live  flock;  and  of  ten  per  cent,  on  our  flour, 
faltcd  pork  and  beef,  tar,  pitch,  and  turpentine. 

In  the  American  iflunds  of  the  United  Nether- 
lands and  Sweden,  our  velTels  and  produce  are  re- 
ceived, fubjefl  to  duties,  not  (o  heavy  as  to  have 
Ijeen  complained  of;  but  they  arc  heavier  in  tlie 
.Dutch  pollclfions  on  the  continent. 

To  lum  up  thcfc  reftridtions,  fo  far  as  they  arc 
important: 

l/.  In  Europe^^ 

Our  bread  fluff  is  at  mofl  times  under  prohibitory 
duties  in  England,  aud  confiderably  dutied  on  ex- 
portation from  Spain  to  her  colonies. 

Our  tobaccoes  are  heavily  dutied  in  England, 
Sweden,  and  France,  and  prohibited  in  Spain  and 
Portugal. 

Our  rice  is  heavily  dutied  in  England  and  Sweden, 
and  prohibited  in  Portugal. 

Our  fill  and  falted  provifions  are  prohibited  in 
England,  and  under  prohibitory  duties  in  France. 

Our  whale-oils  are  prohibited  in  England  and  Por- 
tugal. 

And  our  vefTels  are  denied  naturalization  in  Eng- 
land, and  of  late  in  France. 

U  id.  in 


M 


■ti; 


% 


^it 


APPENDIX. 


^^.  In  the  IFeft'Lidies, 

All  intercourfe  is  prohibited  with  the  pofleflioii^ 
of  Spain  and  Portugal. 

Our  failed  provifions  and  filh  are  prohibited  by 
England. 

Onr  falted  pork,  and  bread  ftnfF  (except  maize;) 
are  received  under  temporary  laws  only,  in  the  do- 
minions of  France,  and  our  falted  iifh  pays  there  2 
weighty  duty. 

3d.    In  the  Article  of  Navlgtttiotu     . 

Our  own  carnage  of  our  own  tobacco  is  heavily 
iJutied  in  Sweden,  and  lately  in  France. 

We  can  carry  no  article,  not  of  our  own  produc- 
tion, to  the  Britifli  ports  in  Europe. 

Nor  even  our  own  produce  to  her  Americaa 
pofleflions. 

Such  being  the  refl:ri(£lions  on  the  commerce  and 
navigation  of  the  United  States,  the  queftion  is,  in 
what  way  they  may  beft  be  removed,  modified,  or 
counteracted? 

As  to  the  commerce,  two  methods  occur,  r.  By 
friendly  arrangements  with  the  feveral  nations  with 
whom  thefe  reftrldibns  exifl:  or,  2d.  By  the  fepa- 
rate  a(t1  of  our  own  legiflatures  for  countervailing 
their  efFeds. 

There  can  be  no  doabt,  but  that  of  thefe  two, 
friendly  arrangement  is  the  mod  eligible.  Inftcad 
of  embarrafEng  commerce  under  piles  of  regulating 
laws,  duties,  and  prohibitions,  could  it  be  relieved 
from  all  its  fliackles  in  all  parts  of  the  world — could 
every  country  be  employed  in  producing  that  which 
nature  has  beil  fitted  it  to  produce,  and  each  be  free 
to  exchange  with  others  mutual  furpluffes  for  mutual 
wants,  the  greatcft  raafs  podibie  would  then  be  pro- 
duced of  thofe  things  which  contribute  to  human 
life  and  human  happinefs;  the  numbers  of  mankind 
fWOuId  beircreafed,  and  their  condition  bettered. 

Would 


hi 


th: 


fu 

in 
ti( 
a 


APPENDIX. 


SI( 


Would  even  a  (Ingle  nation  begin  with  the  United 
States  this  fyftem  of  free  commerce,  it  would  be 
advifable  to  begin  it  with  that  nation;  lince  it  is  by 
one  only  that  it  can  be  extended  to  all.  Where  the 
circumflances  of  either  party  render  it  expedient  to 
levy  a  revenue,  by  way  of  impoll:,  on  commerce, 
its  freedom  nnight  be  modified,  in  that  particular,  by 
mutual  and  equivalent  meafures,  prclcrving  it  entire 
in  all  others. 

Some  nations,  not  yet  ripe  for  free  commerce,  in 
all  its  extent,  might  Hill  be  willing  to  mollify  its  re- 
ftriclions  and  regulations  for  us  in  proportion  to  the 
allvantages  which  an  intercourfe  with  us  migiit 
offer.  Particularly  they  may  concur  with  us  in  re- 
ciprocating the  duties  to  be  levied  on  each  fide,  or 
in  compenfating  any  exccfs  of  duty,  by  equivalent 
ndvantap^es  of  anotiier  nature.  Our  commerce  is 
certainly  of  a  charai^ter  to  entitle  it  to  iavour  in  moft 
countries.  The  commodities  we  offer  are  cither 
necefiaries  of  life,  or  materials  for  manufa6lure,  or 
convenient  fubje^to  of  revenue;  and  we  take  in  ex- 
change, either  manufaiJ^ures,  when  they  have  re- 
ceived the  lafi:  finifli  of  art  and  indulhy,  or  mere 
luxuries.  Such  cuflomers  may  reafonably  expeA 
welcome,  and  friendly  treatment  at  every  market j 
cu^omers  too,  whofc:  deniands,  increafing  with  their 
wealth  and  population,  mufi:  very  fliortly  give  full 
employment  to  the  whole  indullry  of  any  nation 
whatever,  in  any  line  of  lupply  they  may  get  into 
the. habit  of  calling  for  from  it. 

But  fliould  any  nation,  contrary  to  our  wiflics, 
fuppofe  it  may  better  find  its  advantages  by  continu- 
ing its  fyftcm  of  prohibitions,  duties,  and  regula- 
tions, it  behoves  us  to  protet5l  our  citizens,  their 
commerce,  and  navigation,  by  counter-prohibitioiis, 
duties,  and  reo;ulat:ons  alfo.  Free  comm.crce  and 
navigation  are  not  to  be  given  in  exchange  for  re- 
i1ri6tions  and  vexations;  nor  are  they  hkely  to  pro- 
duce a  relaxation  of  them. 

U  2  Our 


I 


'• ) 


i'-^ 


320 


APPEND  I  if. 


Our  navigation  involves  ftill  higher  confidera- 
tions.  As  a  branch  of  indullry,  it  is  valuable;  but' 
as  a  refource,  eflential. 

Its  value,  as  a  branch  of  induftry,  is  enhanced  by 
the  dependence  of  fo  many  other  branches  on  it.  h\ 
limes  of  general  peace  it  multiplies  competitors  for 
employment  in  traniportation,  and  fo  keeps  that  at 
its  proper  level;-  and  in  timesf  of  war,  that  is  to  fay, 
when  thole  nations  who  may  be  our  principal  car- 
riers, ihall  be  at  war  with  each  other,  if  we  have  not 
within  ourfel  /es  the  means  of  tranfportation,  our 
produce  mult  be  exported  in  belligerent  veflels  at 
the  increafed  expencc  of  warfreight  and  infurance, 
and  the  articles  which  will  not  bear  that,  muft  periflv 
on  our  hands. 

But  it  is  a  refource  for  defence  thatoir  navigation 
will  admit  neither  negletTt  nor  forbearance.  The 
polition  and  circumftances  of  the  United  States  leave 
them  nothing  to  fear  on  theirland-  board,  and  nothing 
to  defire  beyopd  their  pi-efent  rights.  But  on  their 
fea- board,  tncy  are  open  to  injury,  and  they  have 
ihere,  too,  a  commerce  which  muft  be  protetfled. 
This  can  only  be  done  by  poffefling  a  refpedablc 
body  of  citizen-feamen,  and  of  artilis  and  eftablifh" 
jr.ents  in  readinefs  for  fhip-building. 

Were  the  ocean,  which  is  the  common  property 
of  all,  open  to  the  induflry  of  all,  fo  that  every  per* 
Ton  and  vefiel  fliould  be  free  to  take  employmenfi 
wherever  it  eould  be  found,  the  United  States  would 
certainly  not  fet  the  example  of  appropriating  to 
themfelves,  excludvely,  any  jiortion  of  the  comnioa 
(lock  of  occupation.  They'vvould  rely  on  the  en- 
terprife  and  aftivity  of  their  citizens  for  a  due  parti- 
cipation of  the  benefits  of  the  feafaring  bufinefs,and 
for  keeping  the  marine  clafs  of  citizens  equal  to  their 
object.  But  if  particular  nations  grafp  at  undue 
fliares,and  more  elpecially  if  they  feize  on  the  means 
of  the  United  States  to  convert  them  into  aliment  for 
their  own  flrength,and  withdraw  them  entirely  from 

the 


APPENDIX. 


221 


Uae  fupport  of  thofe  to  whom  they  belong,  defenllve 
and  protecting  meafures  become  neceflary  on  the 
part  of  the  nation  whofe  marine  refources  are  iluis 
invaded,  or  it  will  be  difurmcd  of  its  defence;  its 
prodiKftions  will  lie  at  the  mercy  of  the  nation 
whji^h  has  poflefled  itfelf  exclufively  of  the  means  of 
carrying  them,  and  its  politics  may  be  influenced 
by  thofe  who  command  its  commerce.  The  carri- 
age of  our  own  commodities,  if  once  eftabliflied  in 
another  channel,  cannot  be  refnmed  in  the  moment 
we  may  defire.  If  we  Icfe  the  feamen  and  artifts 
whom  it  now  occupies,  we  lofe  the  prefent  means 
of  marine  defence,  and  time  will  be  requifite  to  raife 
up  others,  when  difgrace  or  lolTes  fnall  bring  home 
to  our  feelings  the  error  of  having  abandoned  them. 
The  materials  for  mnintaining  our  due  ihare  of  na- 
vigation are  ours  in  abundance;  and  as  to  the  mode 
of  ufing  them,  we  have  only  to  adopt  the  principles 
of  thofe  who  thus  put  us  on  the  defenfive,  or  others 
equivalent  and  better  fitted  to  our  circum fiances.     • 

The.  following  principles  being  founded  in  reci- 
procity, appear  perfesfily  juft,  and  to  offer  no  caufs 
of  complaint  to  any  nation. 

I  ft.  Where  a  nation  impofes  high  dnties  on  onir 
produ(flions,  or  prohibits  them  altogether,  it  may  be 
proper  for  us  to  do  the  fame  by  theirs,  lirfl  burthen- 
ing  or  excluding  thofe  productions  which  they  bring 
here  in  competition  with  our  own  of  the  lan.e  kind; 
felefting  next  fuch  manufa6tures  as  we  take  from 
them  in  greateft  quantity,  and  which  at  the  fame 
time  we  could  the  fooneft  furnifli  to  ourfelvcr.,  or 
obtain  from  other  countries;  impofing  on  them  du- 
ties lighter  at  fir(l,but  heavier  and  heavier  aUervvard.>., 
as  other  channels  of  i'apply  open.  Such  duties  hav- 
ing  the  effect  of  indiret^  encouragement  to  domeftic 
manufaftures  of  the  fame  kind,  ma/  induce  the 
manufacturer  to  come  himfelf  into  thofe  ftatcs; 
where  cheaper  fubfiflence,  equal  laws,  and  a  vent 
«f  his  waresj   hcQ  of  duty,  may  infuve  him  the 

U  3  highelL 


«'^; 


f>  ,>  /s 


APPEKDIX. 


highefl  profits  from  his  (kill  and  induftry.  And 
liere  it  would  be  in  tbj  power  of  tht  flate  govern- 
ments to  co-operate  eflentially,  by  opening  the  rc- 
fources  of  encbnragement  which  arc  under  their 
controiil,  extending  them  liberally  to  artifts  in  thofe 
particular  branches  of  nianufafture,  for  which  #icir 
foil,  climate,  population,  and  other  circumftanccs 
have  matured  them,  and  foftering  the  precious  efforts 
,  and  progrofs  of  houfehold  manufacture,  by  fome  pa- 
tronage fuited  to  the  nature  of  its  objcd^s,  guided  by 
the  local  informations  they  polTcfs,  and  guarded 
againft  abufe  by  their  prefencc  and  attentions.  The 
oppreflions  on  our  agriculture  in  foreign  ports 
would  thuj  be  made  the  occafion  of  relieving  it  from 
a  dependence  on  the  councils  and  condu<5t  of  others, 
and  of  promoting  arts,  manufadures,  and  popula- 
tion, at  home. 

2d.  Where  a  nation  refnfes  permiflion  to  our 
aier'cnants  and  factors  to  refide  within  certain  parts 
of  their  dominions,  we  may,  if  it  fliould  be  thought 
expedient,  refufe  relidence  to  theirs  in  any  and  every 
part  of  ours,  or  modify  their  tranfadlions. 

3.  Where  a  nation  refuies  to  receive  in  our  veflels 
any  produdions  but  our  own,  we  may  refufe  to  re- 
ceive, in  theirs,  any  but  their  own  produ6lions. 
The  firfl  and  fecond  claufes  of  the  bill  reported  by 
the  committee  are  well  formed  to  effeft  this  obje6l. 

4th.  Where  a  nation  refufes  to  confider  any  veflel 
as  ours  which  has  not  been  built  within  our  territo- 
ries, we  fliould  refufe  to  confider  as  theirs  any  vef- 
{cl  not  built  within  their  territories, 

5th.  Where  a  nation  refufes  to  our  veflels  the 
carriage  even  of  our  own  productions  to  certain 
countries  under  their  domination,  we  might  refufe  to 
theirs,  of  every  dcfcription,  the  carriage  of  the  fame 
productions  to  the  fame  countries.  Butasjuftice 
»nd  good  neighbourhood  would  diClatc,  that  thofe 
who  have  no  j)art  in  impofing  the  rellri(5lion  on  us, 
fliould  not  be  the  viflims  of  pieafurcs  adopted  to  de- 


ar£ 


in 
tol 
ti( 
tr< 

h 


APPENDIX. 


c*-?. 


2  5'W 


/eat  its  effect,  it  may  be  proper  to  confine  the  re- 
ltri<^ion  of  veiTels  owned  or  navigated  by  any  fub- 
je6ls  of  ^he  fame  dominant  power,  otliertlian  the  in- 
habitants of  the  country  to  which  the  faid  produc- 
tions are  to  be  carried.^ — And  to  prevent  all  incon- 
venience to  the  faid  inhabitants,  and  to  our  owjj,  ^ 
by  too  fudden  a  check  on  the  means  of  tranfporta- 
■"tion,  we  may  continue  to  admit  the  vefTels  marked  . 
for  future  exclufion,  on  an  advanced  tonnage,  and- 
for  fuch  length  of  time  only,  as  may  beTuppofed  ne- 
ceflary  to  provide  againil  that  inconvenience. 

The  eftablifhment  of  fome  of  thefe  principles  by 
Great-Britain  alone  has  already  loft  us,  in  our  com- 
merce with  that  country  and  its  i  ofleiiions,  between 
eight  and  nine  hundred  veflels  of  near  40,000  tons- 
burthen,  according  to  ftatcments  from  official  mate- 
rials, in  which  they  have  confidence.  This/involves  . 
a  proportional  lofs  of  feamen,  fhipwiights,  and  fliip- 
building,  and  is  too  ferious  a  lofs  to  admit  forbear- - 
ance  of  fome  effe(flual  remedy. 

It  is  true  we  muft  expect  fome  inconvenience 
in  praftice,  from  the  eftabUflimentof  difcriminating 
duties.  But  in  this,  as  in  fo  many  other  cafes,  we 
are  left  to  choofe  between  two  evils.  Thefe  incon- 
veniences are  nothing  when  weighed  againft  the  lofs 
of  wealth  and  lofs  of  force,  which  v/ill  follow  our 
perfeverance  in  the  plan  of  indifcrimination.— 
When  once  it  fliall  be  perceived  that  we  are  either 
in  the  fyftem  or  the  habit  of  giving  equal  advantages 
to  thofe  who  extinguifti  our  commerce  and  naviga- 
tion, by  duties  and  prohibitions,  as  to  thofe  who 
treat  both  uMth  liberality  and  juftice,  liberality  and 
juflice  will  be  converted  by  all  into  duties  and  pro- 
hibitions. It  is  not  to  the  moderation  and  juftice 
of  others  we  are  to  truft  for  fair  and  equal  acccfs  to  . 
market  with  our  produdions,  or  for  our  due  fliare 
in  the  tranfportation  of  them;  but  to  ourjneans  of 
independence,  and  the  firm  will  to  ufe  them.  Nor 
dp  the  iftconvenieacies  of  difcrinnnation  merit  con» 

^deration. 


I 

1  ■ 


If 


i  'I 


'h 


m 


524  '  '      APPENDIX. 

fidention.  Mot  one  of  the  nations  before  mention^ 
ed,  perhaps  not  a  commercial  nation  on  earth,  is 
witliout  them.  In  our  cafe  one  diftin(£lion  alone 
will  fuffice,  that  is  to  fav,  between  nations  who  fa- 
vour  our  prodiK^ions  and  navigation,  and  thofe 
who  do  not  favour  them.  Oneiet  of  moderate  du- 
ties, fiiy  the  prefent  duties,  for  the  lirfl,  and  a  fixed 
advance  on  thefe  as  to  fome  articles,  and  prohibitions 
as  to  others,  for  the  lad. 

Still  it  mftft  be  repeated,  that  friendly  arrange- 
ments are  preferable  wkh  all  who  will  come  into 
them;  and  thnt  we  fli0!.ild  carry  into  fuch  arrange- 
ments ^11  '.he  liberality  and  fpirit  ofaccommodation, 
which  the  nature  of  the  cafe  will  admit. 

France  has,  of  her  own  accord,  propofed  nego-^ 
ciaiions  for  improving,  by  a  new  treaty,  on  fair  and 
equal  principle^.,  the  commercial  relations  of  the  two 
countries.  But  her  iniernal  difturbances  have  hi- 
therto prevented  the  prcfecution  of  them  to  effe(f>j 
though  we  have  had  repeated  alTurances  of  a  conti- 
nuance of  the  difpofition.- 

Propofals  of  friendly  annngement  have  been  mad* 
on  our  part  by.  the  prefcnt  government  to  that  of 
Great-Britain,  as.the  meflageltates;  but,  being  already 
on  as  good  a  footing  in  law,  and  a  better  in  fa£l,  than 
the  mofl:  favoured  r-ation,  they  have  not  as  yet  dif- 
covered  any  difpofition  to  have  it  meddled  with. 

We  have  no  reafon  to  conclude  that  friendly  ar* 
rangements  would  be  declined  by  the.  other  nations 
with  whom  we  have  fuch  commercial,  intcrcourfe  as 
may  render  thsm  important.  In  the.  mean  while,  it 
would  reft  v.'itli  the  v/ifdom  of  Congrefs  to  determine 
whether,  as  to  thofe  nations,  they  will  not  furceafe 
exparte  regulations,  on  the  reafonable  prefumptioii 
that  thev  will  concur  in  dcins:  whatever  iuftice  and 
moderation  dictate  iliould  be  done. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 

P.  S.  Since  writing;  the  above,  forr.e  alterations  of 
the  couditioft  of  our  commerce  with  fome  fovereiga 

aatioas 


/ 


APPtNDI'X. 


lim- 


itations have  taken  place.  France  has  propofed  to 
enter  into  a  new  treaty  of  commerce  with  us,  on 
liberal  principles;  and  has,  in  the  mean  t^'me,  relaxed 
fame  of  the  reflraints  mentioned  in  the  Report. 
Spain  has,  by  an  ordinance  of  June  laft,  ellabliflied 
New  Orleans,  Penfacola,  and  St.  Auguttine,  into 
i'vcc  ports,  for  the  veflels  of  friendly  nations  having 
treaties  of  commerce  with  her,  provided  they  touch 
for  a  permit  at  Corcubio.i  in  Gallicia,  or  at  Alicant; 
r  id  our  rice  is  by  the  fame  ordinance  excluded  from 
that  countrv. 

# 

T/:e  fvllorio'uig  are  fome  of  the  principal  Articles  of  Ex' 
portation  from  the  United  States  of  America  during 
the  Year  ending  in  September^    ^792. 

Three  millions  one  hundred  rtnd  forty  thoufand 
two  hundred  and  fifty-five  bufnels  of  grain  (princi- 
pally wheat). 

One  million  four  nuadred  and  fixty-nine  thoufand 
fevcn  hundred  and  twenty-three  barrels  of  flour, 
meal,  bifcuit,  and  rice  (reducing  calks  of  various 
fizes  to  the  proportion  of  flour  barrels). 

Sixty  million  fix  hundred  and  fcrty-fix  thoufand 
eight  hundred  and  fixty-one  feet  of  boards,  plank, 
and  fc  mtling  (inch  board  meafure). 

Thirty-one  million  feven  hundred  and  fixty  thou>» 
fand  {tvQ:\  hundre^i  and  two  flaves  and  hoops. 

Seventy-one  million  fix  hundred  and  ninety-threo 
thoufand  eight  hundred  and  fixty-tree  fliingles. 

Nineteen  thoufand  three  hundred  and  ninety-ono 
and  a  half  tons  of  timber. 

Eighteen  ihoufaiid  three  hundred  and  feventy-fout: 
pieces  of  timber. 

One  thoufand  andeighty  cedar  and  oak  fhipknecs. 

One  hundred  and  ninety-one  frames  of  houfes. 

Seventy-three  thoufand  tiiree  hundred  and  eigh- 
teen oars,  rafters  for  oars,  and  handfpikes. 

Forty-eight  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  fixty 
{liook  or  knock  dowa  calks.  • 

One 


i  ;1 


^      .: 


&l6  APPENDIX. 

One  hundred  and  forty-fix'  thoufand  nine  hundrcc^ 
and  nine  barrels  of  tar,  pitch,  turpentinennd  rofin. 

Nine  hi   uired  and  ibrty-eighl  thoufaiid  one  h\  n- 
dred  and  fifteen  gallons  of  fpirits,  diftilled  in   the 
United  States. 

One  hundre<l  and  fixteen  thoufand  eight  hundred 
and  three  barrels  of  beef,  perk,  bacon,  mutton,  oyf- 
ters,  &c.  (reducing  caflcs  of  various  fizes  to  the  pro-- 
portion  of  bec*^apd  pork  barrels.) 

T\v.  i  H?  rd  and  thirty-one  thoufand  feven  hull- • 
dred  aii.  •  f,  •  <    -y-fix  barrels  of  driedand  pickled  fifli. 

Seven  ''.iUi'.nd  ciy.h!  hundred  and  twentv-three- 
tons  twelve  cwt.....  141b,  of  potaflies  and  pearl  aflies. 

One  hundred  and  twelve  thoufand  four  hundred 
and  twentv-eicrht  ho(>flieads  of  tobacco; 

!g'ifty-t\vo  thoufand  three  hundred  and  eighty-one 
hogfiieads  ci  flax- feed. 

Forty-ioui  thoufand  fevcn  hundred  and  fifty-two* 
horfes,  horned  cattle,  mules,  and  ilieep. 

The  precedingextraft  from  the  copy  of  an  authen- 
tic afficial  return  of  all  the  exports  from  the  United; 
States  of  America,  within  the  year,  ending  in  Sep- 
tember laft,  conveys  an  idea  of  the  wealth,  import- 
ance, and  progrcllive  profperity  of  that  country,  far 
furpaffing  what  has  been  hcreioforc  ertcrtained  ork. 
the  fubje<^. 

P.  S.  From  the  ift  of  January,  1793,  to  the  ifl:  of 
January,  1794,  there  were  exported  from  the  port  of 
Philardelphia,  4.22,075  barrels  of  flour. 

Of  the  Civil  Li/i^  and  Reveniie  of  the  United  States, 

Abflra6t  of  an  Eftimate  of  the  Expenditures  of  the 
civil  lilt  of  the  United  States,  for  the  year  1793,  re- 
ported L>y  A.  Hamilton,  Secretary  of,  the  Treafurys 
to  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives. 

Dollars, 
Prefjdent's  Salary  25,000. 

Vice-Prefident's  ditto  5,000 

Chief  Juftice  4,000 

£ii'e  AiTociatc  Julticcs  i7?5oo 

All 


APPENDIX. 

All  the  dlftrift  Judges 
'Congrefs 

Trealury  Department 
Department  of  State 
Department  of  War 
Commiflioners  of  old  accounts 
Loan  Offices 
Wefrern  Territory 
Amount  of  Penfions 
•Contingencies 


ti; 


21,700 

143^59^ 

55.050 

6,300 
11,250 

13,300 

13,250 

J  1,000 

5,267 

j»o,264 


■mUm 


352,466  or 

.^•'79)304  1,7  oflcrl. 
eMues. 


Total 
•  In  Britifli  Monev 

t/ie  Re 

The  American  revenue,  for  1793,  is  .it'='d  to  be 
4,400,000  dollars,. exclufive  of  what  mrr;  ar  ;  from 
the  fale  of  lands  in  the  Weftern  Terri'  -y,  .lere  is 
likewife  upwards  of  the  value  of  5,0. .  .coo  dollars 
in  bullion,  iviug  in  the  Bunk  of  the  Viin  \  ^Uates. 
E/limate  (f  Expcnce  for  the  Y*  '»'  1*794. 


The  whole  Civil  Lift  for  1794,  is 
Extraordinaries   for  Pub- 
lic Works,  Benevolences,  &c. 
Eftimate  of  the  Vv^ar  Ex- 


Doh,     Cents. 

397,201     6 
H7»69J  43 


j)ences  for  1794 


-  i'437\936"    1 


Total         2,002,830     50 

The  Dollar  is  4s.  6d.  Jlerling^  and  the  Cent  is  tht 
hundredth  part  of  a  Dollar. 

The  celebrated  Mr.  Thomas  Paine,  in  his  letter 
to  Mr.  Secretary  Dimdas,  publiflied  in  London  in 
the  month  of  June,  1792,  and  who  on  this  fiibjeft, 
(without:  offending  any  party)  may  be  entitled  to 
credit,  gives  a  ftatement  of  the  expenccs  of  the  Ame- 
rican  government  in  the  following  words: 

The  expenccs  of  all  the  feveral  departments  of  the 
■General  Reprcfentative  Government  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  extending  over  a  fpace  of  country 

nearlr 


Yr 


t 


t\> 


5,625 

1,125 

900 

3)937 


illg,  &c. 


/. 
o 
o 
o 

10 


6,^73  x$ 


%1%  APPENDIX. 

nearly  it)\  times  larger  than  England,  Is  two  Imn- 
dred  and  ninety-fourthoufand  five  himdrcd and  fifty- 
eight  dollars,  which  at  4s.  6d.  per  dollar,  is  66,275!. 
IIS.  fterling,  and  is  thus  apportioned: 

Expences  of  the  Executive  Department. 
The  Office  of  the  Prefidency,  at  which 
the  Prefident    receives   nothing  for 
himfclf         ,         -         -         -         - 
Vice  Prefident         •         ...        ^         * 
Chief  Tuftice  .-    --  -         ^ '. 

Five  aflbciate  Juftlces         ... 
Nineteen  Judges  of  Diftri(fts  and  Attor- 
ney General         -         .         -         - 
hegiflative  Department, 
Members   of    Congrefs  at  fix  dollars 
(il.  7s.)  per  day,  their   Secretaries, 
Clerks,  Chaplainc,  Meflengers,  Door- 
keepers, &c.  -         -         -        * 

fypaj'tiry  Dcpartmtnt. 

•Secretary,  Aflillant,  Comptroller,  Audi- 
tor, Treafurer,  Regifter,  and  Loan- 
Office-Keeper,  in  each  Itate,  together 
with  all  neceflary  Clerks,  Office- 
Keepers,  &:c.  12,825     ° 

Department  of  State,)  including  Foreign  Affairs. 

Secretary,  Clerks,  &c.  &c.         -         -      1,406     5 
Department  of  War. 

Secretary,  Clerks,  Pay  mailers,  Commif- 

fioner,  &c.  -  -  -         ;-      i546£ 

Commiffioners  for  fettling  Old  Accounts, 

The  whole  Board,  Clerks,  &c.       -       -      2,598 
Incidental  and  Contingent  Expences, 

^or   Fire     Wood,    Stationary,    Print- 


25^515     o 


10 


15 


Total 


4,006  16 
66,275   li 


! 


FINIS, 


B 


\ 


